English Opening, Neo-Catalan

The Neo-Catalan combines White's pawn on c4, knight on f3, and preparation with g3 against Black's ...e6, ...d5, and usually ...Nf6. White normally develops the bishop to g2 by a fianchetto, moving the g-pawn one square to open a long diagonal.

The defining feature is that White's d-pawn remains on d2. From g2, the bishop pressures the center and queenside without White occupying d4 immediately. This preserves choices such as b3 and Bb2, d3, or a later d4. If White eventually plays d4 and reaches a known Catalan position, the opening has transposed.

Black may keep the pawn on d5 and develop the bishop, or capture on c4. In opening terminology, an accepted line means Black takes the offered c4-pawn; a declined line means Black keeps the tension and does not make that capture at that moment.

The Anglo-Slav Variation shares the idea of delaying d4, but Black builds with ...c6 and ...d5. In the Neo-Catalan, ...e6 is central to the opening's identity.