E03 Catalan Opening: Open Defense
E03 holds two named lines, all under the name Catalan Opening. It leaves E02, a position of the same name, with 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4. Two captures are made along the reference line, the most of the 10 Catalan Opening codes. White’s pieces and pawns attack 11 squares in Black’s half, the most of the 10 Catalan Opening codes. Black’s pieces and pawns attack four squares in White’s half, level for the fewest of the 10 Catalan Opening codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | g3 | d5 |
| 4 | Bg2 | dxc4 |
| 5 | Qa4+ | Nbd7 |
| 6 | Qxc4 |
Moves only E03 plays
Same as E02 up to 4...dxc4, then:
- 5.Qa4+ The queen goes from d1 to a4, giving check.
- 5...Nbd7 The knight leaves b8 for d7, opening a line for the rook on a8.
- 6.Qxc4 The queen on a4 takes the pawn on c4, guarding the bishop on c1 and the pawn on d4.
Lines filed under E03
Both share their first 11 plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies |
|---|---|---|
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense | (the shared start itself) | 11 |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation | 6...a6 7.Qc2 | 13 |
Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation
- 6...a6 The a-pawn advances to a6, covering b5, opening a line for the rook on a8.
- 7.Qc2 The queen goes from c4 to c2.
The road to E03
- 1.d4 … 3...d5five earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, E00
- 4.Bg2E01 Open Defense
- 4...dxc4E02 Open Defense
- 6.Qxc4E03
The position after 6.Qxc4
White has brought out the bishop on g2; Black the knight on d7 and knight on f6. White has a half-open c-file; Black a half-open d-file. Black is to move and has 29 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | Catalan Opening: Open Defense | five squares: d1, c4, d5, d7, b8 |
| A90 | Dutch Defense: Classical Variation | six squares: d1, c4, f5, d7, f7, b8 |
| E00 | Catalan Opening | six squares: d1, f1, g2, c4, d7, b8 |
| E04 | Catalan Opening: Open Defense | six squares: d1, g1, f3, c4, d7, b8 |
| A91 | Dutch Defense: Classical Variation | eight squares: d1, c4, f5, d7, e7, f7, b8, f8 |
| E05 | Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line | eight squares: d1, g1, f3, c4, d7, e7, b8, f8 |
| A50 | Indian Defense: Normal Variation | nine squares: d1, f1, g2, g3, c4, e6, d7, e7 … |