Neo-Catalan

The Neo-Catalan arises when White meets the Agincourt Defense with Nf3 and a kingside fianchetto while keeping the d-pawn at home. The setup mirrors the Catalan Opening. The bishop bound for g2 bears down the long diagonal against d5 and the queenside, and pressure there is White's main theme. Delaying d4 leaves White free to choose when, or whether, to commit the d-pawn. The immediate 4. d4 transposes into the Catalan proper, while 4. cxd5 clarifies the center at once.

By far the most frequent continuation is 4. Bg2, after which Black chooses between two branches. The Neo-Catalan Accepted, 4. Bg2 dxc4, takes the pawn. White normally recovers it with 5. Qa4+, and after 5...Nbd7 (or 5...c6) 6. Qxc4 the game revolves around White's queenside pressure against Black's efforts to complete development and free the c8-bishop. The Neo-Catalan Declined, 4. Bg2 Be7, is the quieter path: Black simply castles and keeps the d5-pawn, and after 5. O-O ECO classifies it as A14. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and White scores well in online games.