11. Catalan against the Slav setup (2...c6, ...Bd6 and ...e5)
Against the Slav structure with ...e6, ...Bd6 and ...Re8 Black prepares ...e5. After 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb2 Nc6 the d5 pawn is isolated and White can blockade it.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.O-O Bd6 7.Qc2 O-O 8.Nbd2 Re8 9.b3 e5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb2 Nc6
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White occupies the center with the Queen's pawn: it controls e5 and c5 and prepares c4, the first step of the Catalan.
- 1...d5 – Black answers with ...d5 and closes the center: White will try to use the long diagonal with the fianchetto.
- 2.c4 – White attacks d5 with the c-pawn: it is the Queen's Gambit, from which the Catalan is born.
- 2...c6 – The Slav: Black protects d5 with the c-pawn, without shutting in the c8 Bishop.
- 3.g3 – White chooses the fianchetto against the Slav too: the g2 Bishop will press on d5, supported by c6.
- 3...Nf6 – Black develops the Knight and controls e4, the square White would like to use.
- 4.Bg2 – The Bishop goes to g2: behind the Black d5 pawn it does not see much, but it will press on the center if the position opens.
- 4...e6 – Black enters the Semi-Slav structure: with ...e6 it shuts in the c8 Bishop, but makes d5 very solid.
- 5.Nf3 – White develops the Knight toward the center and prepares castling.
- 5...Nbd7 – The Knight goes to d7 and supports ...e5, the break that frees Black's game.
- 6.O-O – White castles and puts the King to safety behind the fianchetto.
- 6...Bd6 – The Bishop goes to d6 to support ...e5 and prepare castling.
- 7.Qc2 – The Queen controls e4 and e5 and leaves the d1 square free for a Rook.
- 7...O-O – Black castles: with the King safe it is ready to break with ...e5.
- 8.Nbd2 – The Knight goes to d2, where it supports c4 and e4 without being disturbed by ...dxc4 and ...b5.
- 8...Re8 – The Rook goes to e8 to support the break ...e5.
- 9.b3 – White prepares Bb2: the Bishop will control the long diagonal and the e5 square.
- 9...e5 – Black breaks in the center: it attacks d4 and frees the diagonal of the c8 Bishop.
- 10.cxd5 – White exchanges on d5 before taking on e5: it wants to leave Black an isolated pawn on d5.
- 10...cxd5 – Black recaptures with the c-pawn: the d5 pawn will be isolated after the exchange on e5.
- 11.dxe5 – White takes on e5: now the Black d5 pawn is isolated.
- 11...Nxe5 – The Knight recaptures on e5 and offers to exchange the f3 Knight.
- 12.Bb2 – The Bishop develops on the long diagonal and attacks the e5 Knight.
- 12...Nc6 – The Knight retreats to c6, where it controls d4 and e5, the squares in front of and next to the isolated pawn.
How to exploit the position
White plays against the isolated d5 pawn: it must blockade it and attack it with pieces.
- Bring the Rooks to d1 and c1: the d-file presses on d5, the c-file on the c6 Knight.
- The f3 or d2 Knight goes to d4, the square in front of the isolated pawn: from there it blockades and controls b5, e6 and f5.
- With Bxf6 you eliminate the only piece that defends d5: after the recapture the d1 Rook and the Knight can attack it.
- Beware of the d6 Bishop, which aims at g3 and h2: keep the f4 square under control with e3 or Nh4.
Master tips
The isolated pawn
After ...e5 and the exchanges in the center, Black's d5 pawn is isolated: it is weak in the endgame and the d4 square is perfect for a White Knight.