Catalan opening for club players (U2000)

I would rather call it as 'Catalan systems' since white is following standard setup with with Nf3,Bg2,0-0 and queen pawns on d4 an c4 while black has many different ways how to response. 

It was local club tournament which we played recently and in which I have opted for a strategical concept with white pieces

- instead of highly theoretical and tactical openings, plan was to focus on main opening principles and to devote openings to build up my own position (leaving the real battle for later stages of the game) instead to think how to crush my opponents from early moves. For this kind of experiment I used Catalan opening in all four games with white pieces, resulting in many instructive moments.

My opponents were rated between 1700-2000 points on national rating list.

Game 1

In the first game white managed to apply full pressure on black's center (d5) and black decided to go with dxc4 line. We may notice how much time black lost on roaming with his pieces (dark bishop, queen and later on with knight moving towards d5) instead trying to develop his queen side. The whole setup resulted in a king side attack and beautiful bishop sacrifice by white.

[Round "1"] [White "KristijanZD"] [Black "black"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E07"] [Annotator "KristijanZD"] [PlyCount "67"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. b3 {There are pros and cons of the development of bishop on b2; in order to make some play black may have to plan e5 or c5 move; in both cases this bishop will develop full power on a1-h8 diagonal. For the time being it strongly controls e5. Drawback is that as long as white pawn remains on d4 bishop remains inactive.} Re8 9. Bb2 a6 10. Qd3 {Plan is to play e4 and make pressure to the black center in a way that black will have to exchange (on c4 or e4) thus leaving the white with full control in the center.} Bb4 {It is preferred to play pawn on b6 or b5 in order to complete development. But move Bb4 itself OK, keeping the control of e4.} 11. Rfd1 Qe7 12. e3 $5 {Opening of central files would follow sooner or later. In that view this move is very useful since it may restrict black's counter play along e file and prove setup of his heavy pieces on e file as certain loss of time.} Nf8 13. Ne5 N6d7 14. Nxd7 {It is not bad idea to remove one of 'defenders' of black king side.} Nxd7 15. e4 {Now we came to the key position; black can't hold his d5 pawn any more and it is forced to exchange it at e4 or c4. Both of these have certain drawbacks as we'll see.} dxc4 {Positions with taking on e4 will be considered in next games.} (15... dxe4 16. Nxe4 $16) 16. Qxc4 $5 {Variation would show drawback of taking bxc4. As suggested it was much better for black to try to get some activity with e6-e5.} (16. bxc4 e5 $1 17. d5 {Although white still keeps spatial advantage and strong pawn center; we may notice that white central pawn chain is not flexible as it used to be few moves earlier and that control of dark squares in now on black's side. Also, strong bishop on g2 now potentially becomes weak bishop in long term if certain endgames would occur.}) 16... Ba3 $6 {This move must be criticized due to loss of time; black still didn't complete his development, but bishop had already made three moves, and after white takes it on a3, additionally queen will make another two (Qxa3 and queen retreat since it would be quite useless on a3).} (16... e5 17. dxe5 $6 {This helps black to complete development and, at least, to equalize. One of main strategical plans in this type of position is also to keep black pieces restricted (Bc8, Ra8, Nd7 etc.).} (17. d5 Nb6 18. Qe2 $14) (17. a3 Bd6 $14) 17... Nxe5 18. Qe2 Bg4 $1 19. f3 Bh5) 17. Bxa3 Qxa3 18. e5 $1 $16 {From this moment, development of Bc8 will become big issue from black due to constant pressure along h1-a8 diagonal from Bg2, and the pawn on e5 prevents knight to get back to it's best square f6 thus making black king side highly vulnerable. Additionally, this move provides white with option to direct pieces towards black king side (Ne4, Be4, Qc2 or Qd3 etc.). Black will direct his knight on 'strong' d5 post, but as we'll see this will not make his position better at all.} Nb6 {As it may seem to inexperienced player, knight indeed doesn't reach d5 with a tempo, because white queen will go to b1-h7 diagonal anyway. I can't remove the impression that this knight would be better on f8 making some kind of protection to the black king.} 19. Qd3 Rd8 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. f4 Nd5 22. Ng5 {Creation of weakness on black's king side. Some moves like Rac1 are good too.} f5 23. exf6 {xe6.} Nxf6 24. Rac1 Bd7 25. Qe2 Qd6 26. Kh1 Re8 27. Ne4 $5 {Black knight is the only piece considered to gave certain activity (and king side protection!) and it is worth to consider exchange of it!} Nxe4 28. Bxe4 Rf8 29. Qh5 g6 $2 {Better alternative was h6. This move is direct call for king side attack, and main motif is not only the black king, but also unprotected queen on d6 as we'll see at the end of tactical line.} (29... h6 30. Qg6 Rf6 31. Qh7+ Kf7 {So, white couldn't make direct profit of h7-h6 move, black's position is generally bad, but still playable.}) 30. Bxg6 $1 $18 hxg6 $2 (30... Qd5+ {The only move which could extend black's life, however the resulting endgame would be extreemly difficult for black.} 31. Qxd5 exd5 32. Bd3 $16) 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Rc5 {Threat is Rh5#.} Rf5 {Last resource black was relying on, but e6 pawn is pinned.} 33. Rxf5 exf5 34. Qxd6 1-0  

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Game 2

In the second game, black approach was to immediately 'sort out' problem of Bc8 by early development on f5. That had some other issues and after applying full pressure to the black center (d5), black had to exchange on e4. In further course of the game we'll see how black could deal with Bb2 'problem' and how hesitation to deal with white strong pawn center led to lost position.

[Round "3"] [White "KristijanZD"] [Black "black"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D11"] [Annotator "KristijanZD"] [PlyCount "71"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 Bf5 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Bd6 {As it was shown in many games from my practice, this bishop rarely belongs to the d6. Actually with white pawns on h2 and g3 it has nothing to act against on this diagonal. On the other side, as white plan will normally be to play c2-c4 and e2-e4 in order to put pressure on black central pawn (d5), certain things may be forcing (threat e4-e5, threat of taking bishop in case of white knight gets on e4 or c4 after exchanges etc.) for black. So it goes that this bishop initially belongs to the e7.} (5... Be7) 6. c4 c6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. Nd2 $5 {Again, the idea is to play pawn on e4 and force black to loose his strong central point. It is now in white's interest placement of black bishop on f5 which will not give black enough time to prepare suitable response.} O-O 9. e4 dxe4 (9... dxc4 $4 10. Nxc4 {Black will loose one of the bishops.}) 10. Ndxe4 Nxe4 {If bishop would be on e7, black could consider some other options.} 11. Nxe4 Nf6 $6 {Position has no prospects to become blocked, nor black has any strong post to place his knight, thus leaving the bishop pair to the white wasn't good idea here. Knight could be placed on f6 after bishop retreat to e7.} (11... Be7) 12. Nxd6 Qxd6 13. b3 $5 {As it was said in game no 1, bishop on b2 is good and bad at same time. Indeed, it prevents natural c5 or e5 pawn break by the black when it would develop devastating power on a1-h8, but if black could live without these two pawn breaks, it may turn into badly placed piece.} Rad8 14. Bb2 Be4 15. f3 Bg6 16. Kh1 {Whenever f-pawn is moved forward, it is good idea to put the king on h1, staying away from some tactical motives on g1-a7 diagonal.} Rfe8 17. Qe1 Re7 $6 (17... b5 $5 {This could be interesting way for black to continue the game; making pressure on white center combined to possible opening on b file with development of certain counter play. Taking on b5 would be very bad for white restricting the Bb2 on defense of isolated d4 pawn where black knight would be anchored on strong d5 square, and removal of this knight would be only at price of exchange of Bg2 which would lead white to the other problems. There were many ideas in grandmasters practice with this kind of side attack (both, white and black) which even included pawn sacrifice. In this case white had prepared Rc1 maintaining tension and looking for c6 square.}) 18. Qe3 a6 {In the absence of good plan, black started to make holes in his structure.} 19. Rac1 {If some d4 pawn advance will be available in future course of the game, then c and e files are to be open, hence rooks should be placed on these, not on d1.} Ne8 $6 {Knight starts it's very suspicious path. At this point best square was f6 and it had to be kept there. Black hesitated to deal with white center (possible b7-b5 as explained earlier) and this will soon lead to lost position.} 20. Rfe1 Nc7 21. f4 Rde8 22. Qc3 {Provoking first weakness of black king side.} f6 (22... Kh8 {for example} 23. d5 {checkmate threat on g7} f6 24. c5 Qd8 25. d6 $18) 23. Qa5 {Threat is Ba3.} Rd7 24. Bf3 Na8 $6 25. Rcd1 {This is the answer why bishop was placed on f3 move earlier. Now, with black queen on d6, rook transfers to d1 with a possible d4-d5 plan.} Qc7 26. Qc3 Nb6 27. Qe3 a5 28. Bg4 Rde7 $2 {Loosing move. With bishop on f7 black position would be difficult but still holdable.} (28... Bf7 $16) 29. Ba3 $18 Rd7 30. Bxe6+ $18 Kh8 31. Qf2 Rdd8 32. f5 Bf7 33. Bc5 {Threat is Bxb6 when black is loosing unprotected Bf7.} Bxe6 34. fxe6 Kg8 35. d5 Nc8 36. d6 $1 {Double threat of Bb6 and d6-d7. black resigned.} 1-0  

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Game 3

In third game, black had managed to develop efficiently, but decided to undergo for unclear counter attack in center with e6-e5 which led her to the certain difficulties from which white came out with a better endgame.

[Round "5"] [White "KristijanZD"] [Black "black"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [Annotator "KristijanZD"] [PlyCount "67"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Nbd7 5. O-O e6 6. Nbd2 {Slightly different approach than in first two games.} Bd6 {This was discussed in previous game. It is clear that after Nb1-d2 white would be ready to take on c4 on e4 (once pawns are moved, c2-c4 and e2-e4) with knight attacking bishop on d6 this move might become strongly suspicious.} 7. c4 b6 8. Qc2 Ba6 (8... Bb7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 Nf6 12. Qc2 O-O 13. c5 $5) 9. Rd1 O-O 10. b3 Rc8 (10... e5 $5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bb2 Qe7) 11. e4 $1 {Correct moment. One move later (for example Bb2) and black would be ready for c6-c5 creating counter play along c file!} e5 $6 {Although there will be resources for black after this idea, it was better to postpone opening of files and diagonals, particularly with queen on d file.} (11... dxe4 12. Nxe4 {xd6} Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Nf6 14. Qe2 $14) 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bb2 Re8 (13... Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 $5) 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Bxe5 Rxe5 16. Qb2 $6 {So, the white queen moves from c file with a tempo, but this wasn't best move here and had provided black with good defending resource.} (16. f4 $5 Re8 17. Bh3 Rc7 18. e5 $16) 16... Re7 $6 (16... Qe7 $5 $11 {It was great opportunity to get queen to safe area.}) 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Nf1 $1 {Threat is Ne3. The fact is that black d pawn remains pinned, but white c pawn is not pinned any more (After Qc2-b2). This is why black should place the queen on e7 instead of rook.} Rd7 19. Bh3 Re7 20. Ne3 $1 {Clearly matter of taste. But I decided to take small but stable and long term advantage (pawn up) rather than entering unclear waters after taking the exchange on c8. Weakness of white squares around white king may provide black with lots of counter play as a compensation for the exchange.} Rcc7 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Rxd5 Qe8 23. Qd2 Qf8 24. Rd8 Re8 25. Rxe8 Qxe8 26. Re1 Re7 27. Rxe7 Qxe7 28. Bg2 g6 29. Bd5 Bb7 30. Bxb7 Qxb7 31. Qd8+ Kg7 32. Qd4+ Kg8 33. c5 $5 {It is important to create passed pawn before black queen manages to find some way towards white king for perpetual checks.} bxc5 34. Qxc5 $16 {There is no need to go further. My opponent soon dropped a-pawn with no clear compensation and endgame was clearly winning for white.} 1-0  

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Game 4

In fourth game my opponent decided to go for Tarrasch idea, with early counter pressure on white center by c7-c5, which proven to be the most active choice to deal with whole concept. Still white had managed to create certain positional advantages in the resulting endgame...

[Round "6"] [White "KristijanZD"] [Black "black"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E18"] [Annotator "KristijanZD"] [PlyCount "54"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c5 $5 {Not waiting for the white to make pressure, black started own pressure in the center.} 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 O-O 7. cxd5 (7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Nc3 Qh5 $11) 7... exd5 {For the 'weak' d5 pawn black would get easy development.} 8. Nc3 b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. Bf4 (10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Qxb3 14. Bxb3 $16) 10... Na6 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Bh3 {I was considering Nc3-b5 but didn't find anything after Ra8. However, sooner or later, black would have to do something with a6 knight, probably going to the c7 when, after exchanges, black queen on c7 would not be so good (Rook on c1!), and perhaps this could be used to get out something more from position!?} Ra8 13. Bg2 Nc7 14. dxc5 Bxc5 $6 (14... bxc5 $1 $11 {This would make the game equal, although there are methods how to fight against two pawns (c5, d5) black can develop active pieces play here.}) 15. Nd3 Bd6 $6 {One of main goals in positions with isolated pawn is to exchange bishop of color in front of that pawn in order to provide sufficient blockade. By retreating to the d6, black did great favour for the white.} 16. Qb3 (16. Bxd6 Qxd6 $14) 16... Bxf4 17. Nxf4 Qe7 18. e3 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 Qe5 20. Qa4 Rd7 21. Rd2 Ne6 22. Rcd1 Nc5 23. Qd4 Qxd4 24. Rxd4 Ne6 25. Rb4 Nxf4 26. Rxf4 h6 27. Rfd4 Rad8 {We'll stop here. The rest of the game is of less importance for the theoretical review of Catalan system. White had managed to develop strong static advantage based on 'better bishop' and isolated black d-pawn. Worth to mention is that, despite the positional advantage, one small mistake few moves later by white led black to opportunity to convert position into drawing endgame.} 1/2-1/2  

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