The Catalan is one of the most popular openings and a favourite of many of the world's leading players. Its rich tactical and positional subtleties provide an excellent platform for players wishing to improve their overall understanding of the game. Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik provide a comprehensive coverage of this opening, outlining the most common plans and tactics for both White and Black, and studying the latest theoretical developments in the most important variations.

This book is a must for die-hard Catalan fans as well as for those wishing to take up this fashionable opening.

- Played by the world's top Grandmasters

- Written b y leading openings theoreticians

- Ideas, str ategies and tactics discussed for both sides

Alexander Raetsky is a Russian International Master and an experienced competitor on the chess tournament circuit. He's also a skilled writer and has been a frequent contributor to the famous Russian magazine 64 and the internationally renowned publication New In Chess. His first book for Everyman Chess, Meeting 1 e4, was very well received by the chess-playing public.

Maxim Chetverik, also from Russia, is a FIDE Master and a renowned openings expert. He also the co-author,

with Raetsky, of the Everyman Chess book English ...e5.

004 Bibliography

005 Introduction

1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 g3

007 1 Closed Catalan: 4... Be7 5 Bg2 0-0

038 2 4...c6 5 Bg2 Bd6

044 3 4...dxc4 5 Qa4+

058 4 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 Be7 6 0-0 0-0

096 5 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 a6

124 6 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 Nc6

111 7 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 c5

155 8 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 b5

172 9 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 c6

176 10 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 Bb4+

181 11 4...dxc4 5 Bg2 Nbd7

185 12 4...dxc4 5 Ng2 Bd7

190 Index of Complete Games