English Opening: Neo-Catalan position after 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6. White: pawn on c4, knight on f3, pawn on g3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on d2, pawn on e2, pawn on f2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, knight on b1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, bishop on f1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, bishop on f8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, pawn on e6, knight on f6, pawn on d5.
English Opening: Neo-Catalan is a chess opening that arises after 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6. It is classified A13 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The English Opening starts with 1.c4, controlling d5 from the flank rather than occupying the centre with a pawn. It is one of the four most common first moves and is prized for its flexibility, transposing readily into queen's pawn openings or keeping an independent character.
Strategic character
Strategic and slow-building. Common structures include the Reversed Sicilian, where White plays the Sicilian with an extra tempo, and the Symmetrical English after 1...c5. Fianchettos and long manoeuvring are typical.
Who should play it
Positional players who like flexible systems and are comfortable in structures where the plan is not decided in the first ten moves.
This line is a variation within the English Opening family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6.
Variations continuing from this position
Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6. Open any of them to load the position on the board.
The English Opening: Neo-Catalan is a chess opening that arises after 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6. It is classified A13 in the ECO system. The English Opening starts with 1.c4, controlling d5 from the flank rather than occupying the centre with a pawn. It is one of the four most common first moves and is prized for its flexibility, transposing readily into queen's pawn openings or keeping an independent character.
What are the moves of the English Opening: Neo-Catalan?
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the English Opening: Neo-Catalan good for beginners?
Positional players who like flexible systems and are comfortable in structures where the plan is not decided in the first ten moves.
What variations come from the English Opening: Neo-Catalan?
Named continuations include English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Bogoljubow Defense, English Opening: Neo-Catalan Declined, English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3, English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Tarrasch Defense. There are 6 named variations reachable from this position in total.