Catalan vs the Bogo-Indian: 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 is variation 6 of 6 in the Catalan Opening course, a advanced opening course for White (ECO E11). It runs 24 moves and begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 …. When Black plays ...Bb4+ before ...d5, White blocks with Bd2 and still plays g3 and Bg2. After ...Bxd2+ and ...d6/...e5 Black aims for a solid dark-square structure, while White gains space with e4 and d5. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. d4 – White takes the centre.
1... Nf6 – Black develops.
2. c4 – White gains space.
2... e6 – Black prepares ...Bb4+ or ...d5.
3. Nf3 – White avoids the Nimzo-Indian (3.Nc3 Bb4).
3... Bb4+ – The Bogo-Indian check.
4. Bd2 – White blocks with the bishop, offering a trade of dark-squared bishops.
4... Qe7 – The queen protects the b4-bishop and prepares ...Nc6 and ...e5.
5. g3 – The Catalan fianchetto, aiming the bishop at Black's queenside.
5... Nc6 – Black hits d4 and prepares ...e5.
6. Bg2 – The bishop goes to the long diagonal; d4 is guarded by the f3-knight, and after ...Nxd4 Nxd4 Black has no follow-up.
6... Bxd2+ – Black trades so that the knight on d2 must recapture.
7. Nbxd2 – The knight recaptures and supports the e4 advance; recapturing with the queen would let ...Ne4 or ...e5 come with tempo.
7... d6 – Black prepares ...e5 to fight for the dark squares.
8. O-O – White castles.
8... a5 – Black gains queenside space and stops b4.
The lesson goes on for 8 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM