Play the Catalan

Nigel Davies

• Publisher: Popular Chess
• Year: 2009
• eBook ISBN: 9781857447569

The Catalan is a sophisticated and wide-ranging opening system which is popular at all levels of chess. In recent years it has been catapulted into the limelight by Vladimir Kramnik, who has revitalized it with many new ideas and has utilized it with great success against the world's strongest players – on occasion making it look like a forced win for White! In this book, Grandmaster Nigel Davies presents a major study of this important opening. Drawing upon his wealth of personal experience with the Catalan, Davies provides a reliable and dynamic repertoire for White, covers the keys plans for both sides, and tackles crucial modern day issues such as move orders.

Table of contents

• Bibliography
• Introduction
• Move Orders
• 1 Main Line with 10 Bd2
• 2 Main Line with 10 Bf4 and Others
• 3 Main Line with 8 a4
• 4 Main Line with 7 Ne5 and Others
• 5 Main Line with 6 Qc2 and 6 Nc3
• 6 Closed Catalan with 7 Qc2
• 7 Closed Catalan with 7 Nc3
• 8 Closed Catalan with 4 ... Bb4+
• 9 Open Catalan with 5 ... Bb4+
• 10 Open Catalan with 5 ... c5
• 11 Open Catalan with 5 ... Nc6
• 12 Open Catalan with 5 ... a6
• 13 Open Catalan with 5 ... b5 and Others
• 14 Open Catalan with 5 Qa4+
• Index of Complete Games