Tree path 5 levels Catalan Opening › Catalan Opening › Closed › Catalan Opening: Open Defense › Catalan Opening: Open Defense
- Chess Codex
- Catalan Opening E00
- Catalan Opening E00
- Closed E01
- Catalan Opening: Open Defense E02
- Catalan Opening: Open Defense E03 you are here
Catalan Opening: Open Defense
Overview
Catalan Opening: Open Defense is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E03.
The Indian Defenses group covers Indian defences — hypermodern lines where Black challenges the centre with pieces rather than pawns.
Play reaches this position via 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4, after 11 plies of opening development.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Catalan Opening: Open Defense, part of the broader Catalan Opening system.
It continues primarily into one named line, Alekhine Variation.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- E03
- Group
- Indian Defenses (E)
- Plies
- 11
- Direct variations
- 1
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
5,527 games · White 41.6% / Draw 7.4% / Black 51.0%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| a6 | 2,234 | |
| c5 | 1,243 | |
| Be7 | 747 | |
| Nb6 | 631 | |
| Bd6 | 341 | |
| c6 | 186 | |
| Rb8 | 90 | |
| e5 | 19 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:33:34
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