Catalan Opening: Closed Variation, Rabinovich Variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 e6 5.Nbd2 Be7 6.g3 Nbd7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O b5

ECO E09

The Catalan Opening: Closed Variation, Rabinovich Variation is a chess opening line in the Catalan Opening complex, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 e6 5.Nbd2 Be7 6.g3 Nbd7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O b5.

It is catalogued under code E09 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move b5 is chosen by Black on move 8.

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.