Catalan Opening · E09

Closed, Main Line, after 6... c6, through 9... Nbd7

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Qc2 b6 8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. e4 Nbd7

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure. White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal. The g2 bishop plus c4 squeeze d5 from a distance: White plays a risk-free positional game where the long diagonal quietly wins endgames.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.
• 2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
• 2... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5.

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