Catalan Opening: Closed

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3

ECO E06

The Catalan Opening: Closed is a chess opening line in the Catalan Opening complex, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3.

It is catalogued under code E06 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nf3 is chosen by White on move 5.

5 named continuations branch from this position, including the Botvinnik Variation and the Spassky Gambit.

Named variations

• Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation — ECO E07
• Catalan Opening: Closed, Spassky Gambit — ECO E08
• Catalan Opening: Closed, Zagoryansky Variation — ECO E08
• Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line — ECO E09
• Catalan Opening: Closed, Sokolsky Variation — ECO E09

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Catalan Opening course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.