- ECO code
- E00
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3
- Family
- Catalan Opening
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 991
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1937–2026
Catalan Opening is the opening filed under ECO code E00, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3. It belongs to the Catalan Opening family; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 991 games on this line — the 111th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1937 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2010s, with 318 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 25% of those games, 49% end in a draw, and Black wins 26%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%). Draws are more common here than usual, by 14 points.
From this position the most popular move is 3...d5, played in 630 games, followed by 3...Bb4+ (212) and 3...c5 (141). 3...d5 leads into Catalan Opening (E00). After 3...d5 White scores 25% and Black 23%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Ding Liren (56 games); on the Black side, Karjakin,Sergey (68).
2 named variations branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Catalan Opening (E00); Catalan Opening: Open Defense.
Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.
Results in master games
- White 25% (244)
- Draws 49% (486)
- Black 26% (261)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3...d5 | 630 | 25/52/23 | Catalan Opening (E00) |
| 3...Bb4+ | 212 | 24/48/28 | — |
| 3...c5 | 141 | 26/39/35 | — |
| 3...Nc6 | 4 | 25/25/50 | — |
| 3...Be7 | 3 | 0/67/33 | — |
| 3...g6 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Catalan Opening (E00) · 3...d5 · 630 games
- Open Defense · 3...d5 4.Bg2 · 480 games
How the position is reached
- Queen's Pawn Game · 1.d4 · 45,810 games
- Indian Defense · 1.d4 Nf6 · 29,631 games
- Indian Defense: Normal Variation · 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 · 22,243 games
Played most often by
As White
- Ding Liren 56
- Caruana,F 47
- Aronian,L 32
As Black
- Karjakin,Sergey 68
- Karpov, Anatoly 43
- Anand,V 40
Games per decade
- 1930s 8
- 1940s 24
- 1950s 21
- 1960s 10
- 1970s 30
- 1980s 89
- 1990s 50
- 2000s 165
- 2010s 318
- 2020s 276
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zieba,Hubert | Nakamura,Hi | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 26th Feb 2026 |
| Ilkhomi,Jaloliddin | Shirov,A | 0-1 | 2026 | V Menorca Open A 2026 |
| Gukesh,D | Niemann,Hans Moke | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Poland |
| Caruana,F | Durarbayli,Vasif | 0-1 | 2026 | Naroditsky Mem Rapid 2026 |
| Gukesh,D | Caruana,F | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Poland |
| So,W | Robson,R | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | American Cup Champ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Catalan Opening?
It is the opening with ECO code E00, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3. It belongs to the Catalan Opening family.
Is the Catalan Opening good for White or for Black?
In 991 master games on this line White wins 25%, 49% are drawn and Black wins 26%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Catalan Opening?
3...d5 — played in 630 of the master games on this line, which leads into Catalan Opening (E00).
Which grandmasters play the Catalan Opening?
On the White side Ding Liren (56), Caruana,F (47), Aronian,L (32); on the Black side Karjakin,Sergey (68), Karpov, Anatoly (43), Anand,V (40).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
Play this opening against the Katuranga bot, then review the game — the engine marks every brilliant move, mistake and blunder.