Closed Catalan: ...Be7, ...c6, ...Nbd7, ...b6 is variation 4 of 6 in the Catalan Opening course, a advanced opening course for White (ECO E09). It runs 24 moves and begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 …. Black keeps the d5-pawn and builds a solid Queen's Gambit set-up. White plays Qc2 and Nbd2, then e4 to take more central space; Black fianchettoes with ...b6 and ...Bb7 and waits for ...c5. 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 – Prepares ...d5.
3. Nf3 – Develops and keeps the option of g3.
3... d5 – Black takes the centre.
4. g3 – The Catalan fianchetto.
4... Be7 – Black develops and prepares to castle.
5. Bg2 – The bishop goes to the long diagonal.
5... O-O – Black castles.
6. O-O – White castles.
6... Nbd7 – Black keeps the centre closed and develops toward f6 and e5 support.
7. Qc2 – The queen controls e4 and prepares the e4 advance; it also stops ...dxc4 from winning a pawn for long.
7... c6 – Black supports d5 so that the long diagonal stays closed.
8. Nbd2 – The knight supports e4; on d2 it does not block the c-pawn or the long diagonal.
8... b6 – Black prepares ...Bb7 and ...c5, the standard freeing plan.
The lesson goes on for 8 more moves, each with its explanation.
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