Stigma wrote on 07/18/19 at 21:51:13:


I would second Stigma's recommendation of Wojo's Weapons, Volume 1, which contains plenty of verbal explanation. Despite the technical character of many of the lines covered in this work, though, theory has moved on significantly almost everywhere. That's the price you pay for playing an opening as popular as the Catalan has been over the past decade.
Again based on what he writes in the other thread, Mtal seems to be interested in the more aggressive lines of the opening, and Nigel Davies addresses those more extensively than a lot of other writers in his book Play The Catalan. Many of these lines tend not to be covered in repertoire books (which Davies' work is not) and have occurred less in practice over the years, so this might be a good place to find ideas that have proved 'resistant to the winds of theory', as Stigma so eloquently puts it.
I don't have McDonald's book, but he is generally a diligent writer who explains ideas very clearly, so, I'd certainly investigate this if I was taking my first steps in learning to play this opening.

How does Marin's database compare with the Catalan recommendations of Roïz Queen's Indian book though ¿ 

For me, Roïz QID book and Ntirlis QGD book are the only books that offer a strong challenge to Catalán, so it would be nice to know how Marin thinks of their recommendations.

Seeley wrote on 07/18/19 at 17:34:20:


Marin published a Catalan repertoire for White on Modern Chess around a year ago – in three parts followed by a free update IIRC. That's bound to be a lot more current than the DVD. Though I haven't seen either product myself.

Black_Widow wrote on 04/20/08 at 00:04:46:

I know this is an old post, but what is the DVD by Marin on the Catalan?

Just an update:  I drew the game I mentioned, but my opponent never played d2-d4. I pushed too hard and ended up in a lost position.  I was very lucky to escape with a draw!

edgy wrote on 05/02/08 at 15:02:43:


Indeed, I think I might already prefer Black there.  (I would think that White is disadvantaged in having played d4 -- he can't try to play like in a classic Barcza-Smyslov game.)   I'll also take Black after 4. d3 (really?) dc 5. dc (or some weird gambit) Qxd1+ 6. Kxd1 e5 ...

I'm about to play a serious game against an opponent whose main opening move order is 1.c4 2.g3 3.Bg2 4.d4 (or d3) 5.Nc3 6.e3 7.Nge2 8.0-0
When he plays against the Lasker New York/London line, he plays 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.d4 and if 4...Bf5 5.cd5 cd5 6.Qb3.  This seems to be an effective system, combining Catalan, Staunton English, and old main-line KID fianchetto lines into one repertoire.

I'm trying to pick it apart, and am focusing on his position after 3....Nf6.  He has occasionally played 4.d3, which belongs in another thread.  But if he plays 4.d4, what do you recommend for Black.  Black is playing for a win here!