Catalan Opening: Closed Variation, Rabinovich Variation
ECO E09 ยท Catalan Opening
The Catalan Opening: Closed Variation, Rabinovich Variation (E09) is a chess opening in the Catalan Opening family, played by White. It arises after the moves 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.
Moves: 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
About this opening
The Rabinovich Variation (8...b5) enlivens the Closed Catalan with an immediate queenside expansion: Black pushes ...b5 to gain space, support ...c5 and contest the Catalan pressure. The idea is more combative than the traditional waiting schemes, at the cost of a slight weakening of the light squares. White seeks to exploit those weaknesses with a4 and precise central play.