Catalan Opening
White combines queen-pawn central pressure with a kingside fianchetto. The bishop aims through the center toward the queenside; recovering a pawn is only useful if it does not stall development.
Your plan as White
Combine d4 and c4 with the g2 bishop's long diagonal. Develop before trying to recover every pawn.
The opponent’s plan
Choose whether to maintain the d5 center or capture on c4, and develop the queenside carefully.
Watch out: Recovering c4 at any cost can lose time and reduce the bishop's pressure.
Opening game…
Practice this line as White.
Play three moves from the line you watched. Hints draw an arrow on the board. Complete a fresh attempt without hints or retries to pass.
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Name, background and sources
The name is associated with Barcelona's 1929 tournament and Tartakower. Earlier examples existed, so the naming story should not be treated as proof of invention.
Read the opening background on Chess.com ↗Lichess opening names and reference lines (CC0)
ChessSum provides original explanatory notes. Related lines are labeled separately. Reference lines illustrate ideas; they are not a claim that every other legal move is wrong.
Watch how the center and piece development change. Each arrow previews the next move.