E03
Catalan Opening: Open Defense
Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3
The Catalan Opening combines the Queen's Gambit with a kingside fianchetto. White builds a strong positional bind, especially along the long diagonal. The resulting positions are strategically rich and favour patient, technical play.
History & Notable Players
Named after the Catalonia region of Spain where it was first played in 1929. It became Vladimir Kramnik's main weapon and is now one of the most popular openings at the top level.
Top Players in this Opening
Related Openings
E00 - Indian Defense545E01 - Catalan Opening: Closed247E02 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense70E04 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense863E05 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line385E06 - Catalan Opening: Closed1109E07 - Catalan Opening: Closed105E08 - Catalan Opening: Closed133E09 - Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line83
Best Games
Caruana,F vs Anand,V1-0
43rd Olympiad 2018 2018Notable
Giri,A vs Anand,V1/2-1/2
80th Tata Steel GpA 2018Notable
Ivanchuk,V vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 2002Notable
Oll, Lembit vs Morozevich, Alexander1/2-1/2
FIDE-Wch k.o. 1997Notable
Karpov, Anatoly vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1983Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
Goldmoney Asian Rapid KO 2021
Caruana,F vs Dominguez Perez,L1/2-1/2
Clutch Chess Showdown Int 2020
Nakamura,Hi vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
Lindores Abbey Prelim 2020
Ding Liren vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
7th Sinquefield Cup TB 2019
Fedoseev,Vl3 vs Duda,J0-1
81st Tata Steel GpA 2019
So,W vs Duda,J1-0
chess.com Speed 3m+1spm 2018 2018
Smyslov, Vassily vs Polgar, Sofia1-0
Women-Veterans 1996
Smyslov, Vassily vs Tal, Mihail1/2-1/2
Candidats Tournament 1985
Miles, Anthony J vs Karpov, Anatoly1/2-1/2
Linares 1983
Huebner, Robert vs Smyslov, Vassily0-1
Tilburg 1982
Quinteros, Miguel A vs Portisch, Lajos0-1
Linares 1981
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
URS-ch41 1973
Smyslov, Vassily vs Karpov, Anatoly1/2-1/2
Moscow 1971
Smyslov, Vassily vs Keres, Paul1/2-1/2
Moscow 1967
Capablanca, Jose Raul vs Reshevsky, Samuel Herman1-0
Nottingham 1936