Does it count as a Catalna if black plays the slav? For black dxc4 makes sense, because after white fianchettos that bishop will be staring at a pawn. So 4...dxc5 5. Nc3 and then black continues with e6, Bf5 or g6. I don't think I'd play b5 here, I'd let white retake with the cihop for sure. It seems like a decent and even game for black.
Catalan opening - Black plays c6
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Hi,
To answer your question, I don't really know whether this is catalogued as Catalan, Slav or a hybrid. I would say it falls into Catalan since the main difference is what you mentioned: my bishop won't play on the a6-c1 diagonal but fianchettoed.
I agree with you that this Slav against the Catalan looks like very solid, even though Perelshteyn and Dzindzichashvili say in their DVD it's a comfortable game for white. So I think I'm missing something, because this set up doesn't really seem to me "comfortable for white" 
Mar 29, 2010
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#4
If black plays b5 it seems that e4 offers white good prospects with atarget on c6 and control of the center and the threat of e5 later. For black I guess the question is how to deploy the bishops. The dark squared one seems best fianchettoed. Then the light squared one either needs to stay home or come out before e6. Has this come up in some recent tournaments?
I don't think so. I'll make a research at home in my database. This Slav against the Catalan seems not to be played at top level. The problem for black is exactly what you pointed out: the light squared bishop hasn't many squares to go to and he is blocked by his own pawns.
This is why the most common line is the so-called "modern" one where black castles king-side, and only after that takes on c4, letting white recapture as he prepares a6 and b5 (as in the Meran variant of the QGD) in order to open up the diagonal with tempo:
But I think white has a good game here.
Isn't the Catalan bishop on g2 made stronger if black plays ... b5 at any point? Perelshteyn and Dzindzi probably have a lot of faith in white's active pieces and control of the center after black plays dxc4 and b5. You've got to be able to make really active plans and make full use of the initiative to do well.
Isn't this the Moscow gambit of the Slav? Well, although the white light-squared bishop fianchettoed, of course.
I've read this line leads to very interesting and sharp games. I don't know this line, though, but I prefer white here.
Hi there!
I have a question on the Catalan Opening when black plays c6 aiming for a kind of Slav defense. Let's say that we reach this position after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.g3 and black plays whatever:
The character of this opening as you know is releasing the defense on the c4 pawn for more developement and control over the center in exchange. In the main line (black plays e6 and dxc4) regaining the c4 pawn is no major issue.
However when black uses this Slav set up, he can hold onto the c4 pawn by playing b5, so the thematic Qa5+ doesn't help. I've noticed that even using the c6 pawn shield, if black tries to take on c4 too early, the pawn can also be recaptured easilly, though. Otherwise black may run into problems. Nevertheless taking at a further stage when black pieces are more or less developed may cause white a headache.
I'm trying to fight this set up by playing b3, but I'm not quite sure if this is the right way or if on the other hand I should resign that c4 pawn and keep on developing.
I wouldn't really like to enter into deep lines of the Slav since I want my rival to play the Catalan, so e3 and Bxc4 is not in my agenda.
Do you have any tips/comments on this? Thank you very much in advance.