E08
Catalan Opening: Closed
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 Defense56E04 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense863E05 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line385E06 - Catalan Opening: Closed1109E07 - Catalan Opening: Closed105E09 - Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line83
Best Games
Le Quang Liem vs Liang,Awonder1/2-1/2
PNWCC Masters WOO 2020 2020Notable
Bacrot,E vs Kamsky,G0-1
WCh Candidates s/f 2007Notable
Kramnik,V vs Topalov,V1-0
WCh 2006Notable
Karpov,An vs Kramnik,V1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 2001Notable
Portisch, Lajos vs Kamsky, Gata1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993Notable
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Wirthensohn, Heinz1/2-1/2
WchT 1985Notable
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Keres, Paul1-0
Petropolis Interzonal 1973Notable
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
World Championship 26th 1966Notable
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 25th 1963Notable
Giri,A vs Gukesh,D1/2-1/2
World Rapid 2025 2025
Anand,V vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
World Blitz 2009
Ivanchuk,V vs Shirov,A1/2-1/2
TCh-RUS 2008
Radjabov,T vs Topalov,V1/2-1/2
Corus A 2007
Khalifman,A vs Kramnik,V1/2-1/2
ch-RUS Superfinal 2005
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Jussupow, Artur0-1
Ubeda 1997
Polgar, Zsuzsa vs Portisch, Lajos1/2-1/2
Women-Veterans 1995
Kasparov, Gary vs Kamsky, Gata1-0
New York exh 1989
Timman, Jan H vs Short, Nigel D1-0
Euwe mem 1989
Andersson, Ulf vs Short, Nigel D1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1985
Suba, Mihai vs Jussupow, Artur1/2-1/2
Tunis Interzonal 1985