Open Catalan mainline 6... dxc4 7. Qc2 - Black tries 7... b5 to hold the pawn

Question 1

After dxc4 , Qc2 what are main moves and ideas for White against b5

Answer 1

If Black plays b5 he cannot respond with 8…a6 due to 9.axb5 axb5 10. Rxa8

It’s useful to undermine the c4-pawn. In response there are 2-3 main possibilities for Black:

- Bb7 (playable)

- b4 (best)

- c6 (inferior)

Question 2

Black has played b5 to try and hold the pawn, White responds a4 trying to undermine.

What are White’s ideas if Black plays 8… c6 trying to hold on?

Answer 2

c6 is inferior

=> it allows 9. axb5 cxb5? 10 Ng5!

10 … Nd5 fails to mate and the Rook on a8 is lost so 10…h6 11.Nxf7 Rxf7 12. Bxa8

Was how the first game ever played in this variation went in 1947. White was just better, although the game ended in a draw. Eventually, the line was forgotten until the next game in 1975!

Question 3

After 6… dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8.a4 - what are White’s ideas if Black plays 8… Bb7

Answer 3

Bb7 (playable) Black gets the Bishop out at b7 to neutralize the g2 Bishop. It might seem like he is not really sacrificing a pawn as Black was a pawn up.

However, Black more or less loses the c4-pawn by force. 9. axb5 a6 10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Qxc4 White is a pawn up, but Black’s activity gives him good compensation.

Black now starts harassing White’s Queen. 11… Bd5 12. Qc3 Ne4 13. Qe3… The White Queen is safe here for now, although it doesn’t feel like the most ideal square for the Queen, blocking the way of the c1-Bishop. However, this is temporary. White will exchange some pieces which will give the Queen room to move around and after that White is just a pawn up.

Question 4

After 6… dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8.a4 - what are White’s ideas if Black plays 8… b4

Answer 4

b4 (best)

The pawn on b4 deprives White of c3 for his knight.

White has less flexibility and can’t undermine the b4 pawn but Black is slightly loose on his light squares - the knight will find a good post from c4 which can no longer be driven back by the b pawn and the c7 pawn is still backward.

We play the f3-Knight to d2, as this hits a8 as well as c4, thereby creating two threats at once. 9…Nd5 10. Nxc4 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 Black is a bit behind in development, so it justifies grounds for White to take immediate action with 12. e4

Question 5

After 6… dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8.a4 - what are White’s ideas if Black plays 8… b4 and c6

Answer 5

With this move, Black is prepared to enter a pawn up variation at the cost of struggling to develop. 10. Nxc4 Qxd4 11. Rd1 c5 12. Be3

Until now, the moves are all forced. White attacks Black’s Queen and Black has responded with the only moves.

12. Qf5 exchanging Queens doesn’t really make Black’s development easier as Black’s queenside pawn-structure is weak. White can complete development with Nbd2 and play knights to b3 and a5 controling c6and c5. The Knights work excellently in partnership.
13. Qh5 after Nbd2 White is completely developed, while Black is struggling to get the b8-Knight and c8-Bishop out.13…Qxe2 isn’t possible due to14.f3!