McDonald, The Catalan - move by move

This series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study any chess opening and at the same time improve your general chess skills and knowledge.

The Catalan is a solid opening system in which White combines the Queen s Gambit with a kingside fianchetto. In recent years it has become an increasingly popular choice at all levels of chess, and elite grandmasters such as Vladimir Kramnik have developed major new ideas for both White and Black. The Catalan can lead to a wide variety of positions, open or closed, tactical or strategic, that will suit players of all styles. In this book, Grandmaster Neil McDonald invites you to join him in studying the Catalan and its many variations. McDonald shares his experience and knowledge of the Catalan, examines the main plans for both sides and provides answers to the key questions.

Essential guidance and training with the Catalan
Important ideas absorbed by continued practice
Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study



Contents



About the Author

005 Introduction

007 Move Orders and Transpositions

Part One - 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 g3

010 1. The Closed Centre with 4...Be7 or 4...Bb4+

Part Two - Black concedes the centre with 4...dxc4

060 2. White Regains the pawn with 5 Qa4+

Part Three - White develops with 5 Bg2

078 3. Black Holds on to c4 with 5...b5, 5...a6 or 5...c6

111 4. Black Plays 5...Bb4+ or 5...Nc6 6 Qa4 Bb4+

139 5. Black Plays in the Centre with ...c7-c5

164 6. Black Counterattacks with ...Bd7 and ...Bc6

Part Four - 4...Be7 5 Bg2 0-0 6 0-0 dxc4

187 7. The Main Line: 7 Ne5

212 8. The Main Line: 7 Qc2 b6 or 7...b5

232 9. The Main Line: 7 Qc2 a6 8 a4

262 10. The Main Line: 7 Qc2 a6 8 Qxc4

292 Index of Variations

299 Index of Complete Games