Here is a lesson to be learned: how not to use statistics.

Find out the statistics after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 b5 evt. 7.0-0 Nbd7 and after 3.Nf3 e6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Qc2 Nf6 6.Qxc4 b5 and you will see what I mean.

I will not make the same mistake and recommend against these g3 setups. I just advise to do the old fashioned handwork of analysis; starting positions given above. Then decide.

It seems the Catalan approach would be an excellent short cut for those who wish to play classically (Nc3 and Nf3) vs. the Slav and QGD, but who wish to avoid heavy Semi-slav theory or the Noteboom.   It seems white scores very well in these lines.  Does this have something to do with the passive nature of c6 compared to c5 or Nc6?

Can anyone with Catalan experience shed some light on why these lines aren't more popular?  The list of top tier players taking the white side includes the likes of Khalifman, Grischuk, Miton, Bareev, etc.   These lines fall somewhere between Catalan, Reti, Semi-slav and English territory. Possibly relevant ECO codes are D43, E00, E01, E06.  According to my hodge-podge database of approximately 2 million games:


Semi-Slav Catalan  -  1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3

1545 games white scores 59%
42% wins, 34% draws, 24% loss

Noteboom Catalan  -  1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3

1471 games white scores 58%
44% wins, 28% draws, 29% loss


Can anyone recommend any books that offer good coverage of these lines?  For what it's worth, both MCO and NCO give coverage of some c6 Catalan lines where black has already played Be7 which may not appeal to semi-slav players.  Those lines are mostly evaluated as +/= or unclear. MCO has only 1 line from the semi-slav section without Be7 given as +/=.