Closed

The Closed Catalan arises after 4...Be7 5. Nf3. Black holds back from capturing on c4 and keeps the d5-pawn as a barrier to the fianchettoed bishop. The decision is not final at this point. 5...dxc4 transposes to the Classical Line of the Open Catalan, and 5...c6 forms a triangle Slav structure. By far the most common reply is 5...O-O, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced, although White scores somewhat better in practice.

The Main Line runs 5...O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2. The queen and knight prepare e2-e4, while Black seeks to develop the c8-bishop via ...b6. In the Sokolsky Variation, 8...b6 9. b3 a5 10. Bb2 Ba6, the bishop goes to a6, where it bears on c4. Several branches deviate on move 8. After 7...c6, the Zagoryansky Variation continues 8. Rd1 b6 9. a4, and the Spassky Gambit goes 8. b3 b6 9. Rd1 Bb7 10. Nc3 b5, with Black striking on the queenside. The Botvinnik Variation instead plays 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qd3, placing the queen on d3 rather than c2. Play throughout is slow and maneuvering.