Catalan positional analysis

Recent threads claimed some positional analysis, which is one of my favourite issues. I was pretty much decided to do something good about this (with my modest capacities).
In the beginning, my idea was to write a few comments about one of my games, and to post it on Resigning soon topic (equalizing and taking advantage, something like this); but it soon took longer, and ends up with ten pages. So I think it is worth posting it on a new thread.
My hope is this analysis will help beginners to get an idea of what positional thinking mean. If it gives them a first sense of positions, it will make me very happy. I tried to detail everything to the most simple argument.
This is also a way for me to advertise for the Catalan opening, a wonderful opening, full of possibilities, agressive king attacks and long positional fancietto games. In a recent article, the New York times underlines that Catalan was strongly renewed recently, to the point that players are now trying countergambits... I recommend it to Resigning soon!

The game I choose is pretty interesting for getting slowly and in various decisive steps a strong advantage, in a typical positional style. Chess Master counts only a few major mistakes for each of us. So the game is rather clean.I am myself a limited, young player, so be indulgent with my comments (but do not hesitate to be critical!) The somewhat lyrical style is just for fun. Hope you’ll like it.



Here is the game.

1. d4 Ng8f6 2. c4 e6 3. g3

This situation defines Catalan opening. g3 prepares Bg2; it therefore announces further work on the white diagonal, the famous h1 a8 diagonal; with at first sight, an attack on the queen side. Of course, black will prevent this, and try to set up a counter attack plan at the center or King's side. Fancietto and attacks on the Queen's side often mean longer, more positional games.
One more remark, As you can see with this first structure, you can go to Catalan when coming from declined Queen's Gambit, or Semi-slave and slave openings; or even from the English.
These transpositions are very interesting. They mean that when you play d4, you have pretty good chance to come back to Catalan, if you want.
Sometimes though, this leaves the opportunity to your opponent to play the Dutch (f5) since he did not play Nf6. But usually this does not happens.
So very good, you can play Catalan all the time.

3. ... Bf8b4+
Black brings his black bishop out.

This is one possibility. Other possibilities are...

Let see some basic catalan opening theory.

- obvious one: d5. This one, can be deduced from what I said earlier. With d5, black does sth with the famous h1 a8 diagonal; this is the most common move (the transposition from Queen's gambit leads there).

If he chooses the d5 path, Black will soon or late have to do a strategic choice.
- Will he take the c4 pawn and accept the Catalan's Gambit? we would go on an open Catalan then: black has one pawn, but this imply some delay in development, and creates weaknesses: Black gives up the center, and White can possibly play e4, e5 for instance. It opens the famous diagonal, and White’s nice white bishop will hit b7 and Ra8.
- or Black does not accept the Gambit, and the threat is he slowly dies from within, because at a certain point, he cannot make any move.

- c5 is much more counter intuitive! Why? Because black cannot anymore play c6. and guess what: c6 is part of the famous diagonal. So when doing this, Black just calls for white bishop to attack his/her Queen's side.
So why c5? It attacks d4. and then, it forces White to make choices.
either White pushes d4 -many players do - but this makes me sad because it kills my famous diagonal (at least temporarily). Or White plays Nf3, and after cxd4 Nxd4 we have something very open. and very good for my bishop. usually, after c5 white will soon play d5 to try to fill in the holes he is doing in his/her Queen's side.
and then black will have the same choice (closed or open Catalan); but white can create an IQP (isolated queen pawn), right on the famous diagonal. the perfect target...

- other moves are not very active, except Bb4.
What is the idea of Bb4+?? sounds weird too! Obviously, first idea, it fastens development: you get out one piece and at the same time check my King. but obviously, it is not a real threat, just a way to get time.
But is that all? because I will just get one piece out to protect my king, and then I just develop myself also! So what's the point? what advantage do you I get from that move??
Let us be more precise.
you force me (since I do not want to move my king) to put a piece ... in d2. very intelligent! Now I can see! two reasons. 1. a piece in d2 is not very well developed; I will probably have to move it once more before it is really efficient. 2. if it is in d2, then d4 is not anymore protected by my queen; and when game will open, I will have to be careful about d4 pawn (a bit, only).
So Bb4 is a very good move too. this is what Black plays.

4. Bc1d2

Why this ? there are at least two other possible moves at that time!
Here it's only a matter of taste. I think taste is very important in chess; and nevermind all tactical, logical necessities, you still have taste. here it's taste. Please have good taste; make up your taste, improve it, as much as you can; make it become a style. So that chess is not only intelligent, but becomes beautiful. All great chess players have specific styles no? very important.
so, what are the two other moves.
Cc3. this you can play, but you do not feel it. because after black c5, Qa4 and possibly Ne4, it makes a lot on your poor knight. and it is easy for black to play this. So you can play, it is not a mistake; but black have higher success rates with this.
the other move is: Nd2. This is as good as Bd2. But I feel more free with the Bishop e2, because whenever I feel bad I can exchange with Bb4. and also, I can develop my knight on c3, if necessary. But on the other side, I may loose a Bishop. Anyway, I do not like normal bishops. they are lazy. This black bishop, I know, in the Catalan, is usually a bit lazy. So I will keep the knights. I love them, they are like dancers, dancers of the famous diagonal, coming here and there, like nasty flies, and suddenly going deep inside the opponent structure.

4. ... Qd8e7
he/she could also have brought his Bb4 on e7. What?? bringing back stuff in the beginning? why wouldn't he/she rather play Be7? he is wasting his time!
No he is not. Because, as you know now, it is not exactly the same position: now I have a poor bishop on e2...

putting the Queen here is the other possibility. it defends the Bishop, and you cannot take it. it develops the Queen; and possibly prepares... for the long castle?

5. Bf1g2
Whites set up his major piece. This piece he wants to honor with the Catalan! His second king.

5. ... a5 !?

pretty unusual in the Catalan... why not!! it seems that black would like to attack on queen side? I am not sure here, but probably not a good idea to exchange (he would probably take back with the pawn, opening the rook file, and having an annoying pawn in b4, preventing your knight to get out).
So let him to his own story. at least he has style! and I have no more book to help me... damn, how can I do without cheating?

6. Ng1f3
Whites just develop naturally his pieces. One thing to know: the Nf3 in the Catalan, likes to go on e5, especially when the dxc4 gambit was accepted: from e5, he may be able to take back the pawn. Moreover, he may attack from e5 on c6 (part of the famous diagonal). This can be terrible, when in one move, white bishop and Nf3 attack c6, at the same time.
In some situations, Nf3 may prefer going to d2; with similar effects (attacking c4, opening the famous diagonal).

6. ... b6

Here, an immediate thought: look at the diagonal! We just talked about Ne5, why not now? this would attack Black rook on the famous diagonal. and put the knight in such a way that he cannot play Nc6 to protect his rook (because then, as I just said, my dancer knights will take it.)
well, I did not play it, because he could simplily play c6. and then he cannot put his knight in a very good place, but he prepares a correct d5.
So, this looks weird, but for the moment I just look.
This, again, is very important: take your time! It is a matter of elegance. Would you go on the meat when it's not even prepared? Just think inside yourself: hmm, nice, nice. Look like you are inspired 🙂 or like he just played a surprisingly good move.

7. O-O
So I take my time. and just castle... but this is an offensive castling... as shows the next move.

7. ... Bb4xd2
and yes! he has to take my poor bishop with his good bishop. and he wastes time. because I will take developing one piece. whereas Black will not develop anything with this.
So why does he have to take??
well if he does not, what happens next? I just remove my bishop in a good place, and then, with a3, forces him to go back. but he has no more good space. He would have to go on d6, which looks awful, because it suppress any counterplay to Bl...

Originally posted by Macpo
Recent threads claimed some positional analysis, which is one of my favourite issues. I was pretty much decided to do something good about this (with my modest capacities).
In the beginning, my idea was to write a few comments about one of my games, and to post it on Resigning soon topic (equalizing and taking advantage, something like this); but it soon too looks awful, because it suppress any counterplay to Bl...

Wow ! nice post and good idea to explain openings to beginners in such a funny way!
"please have good taste"
"bishops are lazy"
and especially "So I will keep the knights. I love them, they are like dancers, dancers of the famous diagonal, coming here and there, like nasty flies, and suddenly going deep inside the opponent structure."

Always nicer to read about theory explained in an entertaining way (that's something i like with chess authors like silman or sadler for instance)

And the catalan is a fine opening for those who don't want too much learning while retaining good chances for an edge with a very sound opening! (though i'm not competely convinced about the "agressive king attacks" part 😉 )

But as you said "don't hesitate to be critical", here are my 2 cents :

- Your game is not a catalan! I understand you call catalan the white system with d4/c4/g3 but normally the name refers to the variation where black plays d5 and white sacrifices his c pawn (wether black takes it or not)
here it's a bogo-indian.

- About the other moves than 3...Bb4 : i agree about what you say about d5 (the real catalan!) but i find you a bit harsh about c5.
It's a perfectly good move, played by benoni players.
Then you're right : Nf3 is a better choice than d5 (you keep the game in your territory and don't allow them what they want!)
After c5 Nf3, you say black will usually play d5 and land in an IQP type position. But there's a good alternative : the plan cxd4 Nxd4 Bb4+ (a bit like in your game) Bd2 Qb6 ! black will keep pressuring white's center, not letting him the time to exploit the weak dark squares, and should equalize quickly.

Sorry i got a bit carried away but i like opening analysis too! i'm aware it's supposed to be for beginners so no need to go to far in details...