2 Best Lines against the Catalan Opening

The first one is the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line 6. 0-0 0-0.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3, so we have the Catalan Opening, so Black replies with d5. White goes Bg2 fianchettoing the light-square bishop and giving us the Closed Catalan. Be7 for Black, 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O and dxc4, and so we transpose into the Open and Classical Catalan. Qc2, white is going to claim back that pawn, and black goes a6, to stop further ideas of white going b4 and b5. White goes a4, grabbing space on the Queenside. And Black goes Bd7, the absolute top engine move, preparing to go Bc6 so they can counter White's fianchettoed light square bishop. White goes Qxc4, capturing the lost pawn, and Black moves Bc6. Just as planned. After Be3 and Bbd7, we reach the end of our first line. This is an equal position with equal material, but the moves for Black are easier to find.

Line 2: Catalan Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3, so again obviously we have the Catalan Opening. Now, instead of going d5, white can go Bb4+, which black responds to with Bd2, offering a trade of dark squared bishops. The best move for Black is to actually go Be7, bringing the bishop back, and then White goes the iconic Bg2 of the Catalan. We have 5.O-O 6. Nf6 d5 and 7. O-O. Here Black is put on the spot. They can either defend the d5 pawn, or they can capture White's c4 pawn. Black accepts the trade. Just like in the previous line, we have Qc2, Nbd7, and Qxc4. What's different is that now black goes c5, and after the pawns are traded off black is in a better position.