Chess Openings Lab
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English Opening: Neo-Catalan

The Neo-Catalan arises after 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6, a Catalan setup where White holds back d4. White wants the g2 bishop to hit d5 and b7, while Black can either grab space with ...d4 or transpose to a Catalan.

Moves
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6
ECO
A13
Engine
+0.24 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
230 games in our lichess sample
White scores
60.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Bg2 and castle, then aim the bishop at d5 and b7 from the long diagonal.
  • If Black pushes ...d4, undermine it with e3 and later b4, opening lines against the advanced pawn.
  • With d4, steer into a Catalan where ...Bb4+ is met by Bd2 and Qc2.

Black

  • Push ...d4 to gain space against the fianchetto, backed by ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Bd6.
  • Capture ...dxc4 when White's queen cannot easily regain the pawn, as after an early d3.
  • Against d4, give the check ...Bb4+ and then retreat to e7 once the d2 bishop blocks.

Plans and pawn structure

White's plan is the classic Catalan one: the g2 bishop, rooks on the c- and d-files and steady play against Black's queenside. When Black plays ...d4, the structure becomes like a reversed Benoni, and White works with e3 and b4 to break up Black's space. When Black stays put, White can enter the main Catalan with d4. Black's best play keeps the light-squared bishop active and does not let the b7 pawn become a target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.24: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.24 4.Bg2 d4 5.e3 c5 6.O-O Nc6
  2. +0.24 4.d4 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Qc2 c6
  3. −0.08 4.d3 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.dxc4 Bd7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

230 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 60.4%.

1600–199958.2%
2000 and up61.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Agincourt Defense, Keres Defense4.Bg2 · rare

How to play against it

For White: go Bg2 and O-O rather than d3, which allows ...dxc4 and a queen check on a4 that leads nowhere. If Black plays ...d4, answer with e3 to attack the pawn. If you prefer the Catalan, play d4 and meet ...Bb4+ with Bd2.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: Neo-Catalan?

The English Opening: Neo-Catalan starts 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6. Its ECO code is A13.

Is the English Opening: Neo-Catalan good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.24 at depth 20, which is level. In 230 lichess games from our sample, White scored 60.4%. A flexible line for White players who like long-diagonal pressure; Black must decide early between ...d4 and a classical setup.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: Neo-Catalan?

White plays a Catalan fianchetto but keeps the d-pawn flexible. Black chooses between space with ...d4 and a standard Catalan structure.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bg2, with d4 and d3 close behind. Bg2 finishes the fianchetto and asks Black to choose a structure first.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.