E04
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 Defense70E03 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense56E05 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line385E06 - Catalan Opening: Closed1109E07 - Catalan Opening: Closed105E08 - Catalan Opening: Closed133E09 - Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line83
Best Games
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Erigaisi,Arjun1-0
87th Tata Steel Masters • 2025★ Notable
Gukesh,D vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
11th Sinquefield Cup • 2024★ Notable
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
12th Norway Chess 2024 • 2024★ Notable
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs Praggnanandhaa,R1/2-1/2
86th Tata Steel Masters • 2024★ Notable
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs Gukesh,D1-0
Tata Steel IND Blitz Open • 2023★ Notable
So,W vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
9th Sinquefield Cup 2022 • 2022★ Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Firouzja,Alireza1-0
9th Sinquefield Cup 2022 • 2022★ Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Blitz 2022 • 2022★ Notable
Radjabov,T vs Caruana,F1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2022 • 2022★ Notable
Radjabov,T vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2022 • 2022★ Notable
Carlsen,M vs Mamedyarov,S1-0
84th Tata Steel Masters • 2022★ Notable
Carlsen,M vs Rapport,R1-0
84th Tata Steel Masters • 2022★ Notable
Makhnev,Denis vs Le Quang Liem1/2-1/2
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 21 • 2021★ Notable
Grischuk,A vs Dominguez Perez,L1-0
Saint Louis Rapid 2020 • 2020★ Notable
Gelfand,B vs Kryakvin,D1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 18 • 2020★ Notable
Nguyen Duc Hoa vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
PNWCC Bullet (1+1) 2020 • 2020★ Notable
Martirosyan,Haik M. vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
PNWCC Blitz Championship • 2020★ Notable
Nguyen Duc Hoa vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek0-1
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 17 • 2020★ Notable
Le Quang Liem vs Baskin,R1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 13 • 2020★ Notable
Leiva,G vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 11 • 2020★ Notable