Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation
ECO E07 ยท Catalan Opening
The Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation (E07) is a chess opening in the Catalan Opening family, played by White. It arises after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qd3.
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qd3
About this opening
The Botvinnik Variation of the Closed Catalan (7.Nc3 c6 8.Qd3) develops the knight to c3 and places the queen on d3 to prepare an energetic e4 central push. White aims to use the space advantage and fianchetto pressure to open the game on good terms. Black replies with solid development and queenside counterplay. A strategic, ambitious approach.