14. Catalan by transposition (1...e6 2.g3) and the isolated d5 pawn

White fianchettos before c4 and reaches the Closed Catalan by transposition. After 9.e4 Na6 10.a3 c5 and the exchanges in the center, Black is left with an isolated pawn on d5.

1.d4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 c6 7.Nbd2 b6 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.e4 Na6 10.a3 c5 11.exd5 exd5 12.dxc5 Nxc5

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...e6 – Black plays ...e6: it can head for the Queen's Gambit Declined or the French, or keep the Dutch open with ...f5.
2.g3 – White prepares the fianchetto before c4: it wants the Catalan scheme whatever Black plays.
2...d5 – Black occupies the center with ...d5: White can play c4 and return to the Catalan.
3.Bg2 – The Bishop completes the fianchetto on g2: it presses on d5 and e4 and prepares short castling.
3...Nf6 – Black develops the Knight and controls e4.
4.Nf3 – White develops the Knight and prepares castling, postponing c4.
4...Be7 – Black develops the Bishop on e7 and prepares castling, without yet deciding between ...c6 and ...c5.
5.O-O – White castles: the King is safe and the push c4 can come at any moment.
5...O-O – Black castles too: with c4 we will return to the Closed Catalan.
6.c4 – White pushes c4 and we reach the Closed Catalan by transposition.
6...c6 – Black reinforces d5 with the c6 pawn: the structure is solid, but the c8 Bishop will have to come out with ...b6 and ...Bb7.
7.Nbd2 – The Knight goes to d2 to support c4 and e4: White prepares the central push.
7...b6 – Black prepares ...Bb7 to develop the c8 Bishop.
8.Qc2 – The Queen controls e4 and the c-file: now the push e4 is ready.
8...Bb7 – The Bishop goes to b7, behind the c6 pawn: it will come alive when the center opens.
9.e4 – White pushes e4 and attacks d5: Black must decide whether to exchange or maintain the tension.
9...Na6 – The Knight goes to a6 to support ...c5 and jump to b4 against the c2 Queen.
10.a3 – White takes the b4 square away from the a6 Knight.
10...c5 – Black breaks with ...c5 and attacks d4, with the a6 Knight ready to recapture on c5.
11.exd5 – White exchanges on d5 to open the center.
11...exd5 – Black recaptures with the e-pawn: now the d5 pawn is attacked by the c4 pawn.
12.dxc5 – White takes on c5: after the recapture the Black d5 pawn remains isolated.
12...Nxc5 – The Knight recaptures on c5, from where it controls e4 and d3; the d5 pawn is isolated.

How to exploit the position

White plays against the isolated d5 pawn, defended by the b7 Bishop and the f6 Knight.

With b4 drive away the c5 Knight, one of Black's most active pieces.
The Bishop goes to b2 against f6: eliminating the Knight takes a defender away from d5.
The Rooks go to d1 and e1; the f3 Knight goes to d4 and the d2 Knight to b3.
Exchange on d5 with cxd5 only when it suits: after the recapture Black is left without weaknesses.

Master tips

The same scheme against everything

With 2.g3, Bg2, Nf3 and O-O White plays the Catalan scheme against almost every defense and chooses the moment of c4 later.

Model games

Donchenko, Alexa – Eljanov, P., 2018 1/2-1/2
Gupta, Ab – Lenic, L., 2018 1/2-1/2
Jojua, D. – Lenic, L., 2017 1/2-1/2