Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Catalan
White combines a queen’s pawn opening with a kingside fianchetto, pressing on d5 and the long diagonal.
The idea
White combines a queen’s pawn opening with a kingside fianchetto.
- White already has pawns on c4 and d4, a normal queen’s pawn set-up.
- Rather than Nf3 first, White fianchettoes at once with g3.
- The bishop on f1 will aim down the long diagonal at d5.
In a game: Spot it when White plays d4 and c4, then g3 and Bg2, against a pawn on e6.
How the lesson begins
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4, Black often plays 2...e6: among players rated 2000 and above on Lichess, 40% of games went that way. Watch the moves.
- 1. d4 White takes the centre.
- 1... Nf6 Black develops.
- 2. c4 White takes more space.
- 2... e6 Black gets ready to meet the centre with ...d5.
Find the move
White to move. Fianchetto the king’s bishop, so that it will press on d5 from the long diagonal.
A hint
The pawn on g2 advances one square.
Show the answer
3. g3
g3 prepares Bg2, which will aim down the long diagonal at Black’s queenside, through the square d5. This is the Catalan Opening.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | Too few games |
| 1200 to 1599 | Too few games |
| 1600 to 1999 | 0.2 |
| 2000 and up | 4.2 |
How the games ended
White won 50%, 9% were drawn and Black won 41%, over 1,065 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.