Can you avoid the Modern Slav when playing the Catalan?

NebulaeAndStars · 2021-06-20T13:47:48-07:00

I've been learning the Catalan over the last few weeks, but I've been having some trouble against these lines: I'm wondering whether there's an alternate move order that I can use to avoid the Slav altogether. Maybe something with 1.c4 or 1.Nf3? If there isn't, how are you

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EditorRex

Jun 25, 2021

#21

PerpetuallyPinned wrote:

I think the point (and maybe the bigger misunderstanding) is that you don't need to avoid the Slav at all. You can play whatever you choose. And if you want to remain in the Catalan "spirit" with the setup, then that's ok. You may end up not choosing the setup in certain situations.

You might remain in Slav with early c6, but you don't have to learn all Slav theory out there. Surely there's not a need to abandon it. Look at the lines you'll face and worry about the rare stuff later.

Agreed. I suspect the original poster is trying to figure out how to avoid certain lines that are challenging if you play g3 early after black has played c6. For instance, you do need to adapt to early Bf5 lines and delayed king's knight development lines by black. So you adjust to what your opponent is doing. But you are free to stick with your system. Personally, as someone who does play Catalan-type systems frequently for white, (Catalan, KID-fianchetto, Neo-Grunfeld), the Slav is one of those cases where I opt not to stick with g3 against a particular defense or at least not against particular variations of the defense. For instance, I don't try to play g3 systems against the QGA or the Dutch in most move orders, even though there are g3 options even there.