The Catalan arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 (ECO E00). White combines the ideas of the Queen's Gambit with a fianchetto of the light-squared bishop on g2, where it rakes the long diagonal and presses on Black's queenside.
The strategic idea is long positional pressure: the bishop on g2 and the pawns on c4 and d4 give an edge in the centre and on the queenside, while Black tries either to hang on to the extra pawn on c4 or to give it back in time and finish developing.
The Catalan is a favourite weapon of positional grandmasters: Kramnik, Aronian and Carlsen all played it regularly. It is valued for its solidity and for a long initiative at almost no risk.
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It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
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