user3237: I am a 1750 Elo player with a very positional, quiet and strategic style of play.
I would like to know which variation I should play when, as White, I face the Queen's Gambit Declined.
The variation must meet these two conditions:

On average it must tend to lead to positions which are as much solid, positional, slow, closed, quiet and strategic as possible (I want nothing sharp and tactical).
I should be able to play it both by beginning with 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 and by beginning with 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6
[fen "rnbqkb1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/3p4/2PP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R w - - 1 0"]


I am hesitating between these three variations :

The 5.Bf4 variation: 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4
The 5.Bg5 variation: 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5
The Catalan: 4. g3


user17: The fact that you would consider opening Nf3 suggests that you are open to openings like the Reti. The Catalan g3 leads to (somewhat) this kind of opening, albeit with a pawn on d4. More to the point, with the light squared bishop on the long diagonal, it appears to be an opening of the slow, steady, quiet variety that you favor, keeping White's strategic advantage for as long as possible, at least until you make a mistake, or Black outplays you.
The other variations, with the black-squared Bishop, do have the advantage of developing a new piece, but they are also more "tactical" and lead to earlier conflict. If I understand your question correctly, that's precisely what you want to avoid.

3237: <p>I am a 1750 Elo player with a very positional, quiet and strategic style of play.</p>

<p>I would like to know which variation I should play when, as White, I face the Queen's Gambit Declined.</p>

<p>The variation must meet these two conditions:</p>

<ul>
<li>On average it must tend to lead to positions which are as much solid, positional, slow, closed, quiet and strategic as possible (I want nothing sharp and tactical).</li>
<li><p>I should be able to play it both by beginning with 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 and by beginning with 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6</p>

<pre><code>[fen "rnbqkb1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/3p4/2PP4/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R w - - 1 0"]
</code></pre></li>
</ul>

<p>I am hesitating between these three variations :</p>

<ul>
<li>The 5.Bf4 variation: 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4</li>
<li>The 5.Bg5 variation: 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5</li>
<li>The Catalan: 4. g3</li>
</ul>
 17: <p>The fact that you would consider opening Nf3 suggests that you are open to openings like the Reti. The Catalan g3 leads to (somewhat) this kind of opening, albeit with a pawn on d4. More to the point, with the light squared bishop on the long diagonal, it appears to be an opening of the slow, steady, quiet variety that you favor, keeping White's strategic advantage for as long as possible, at least until you make a mistake, or Black outplays you.</p>

<p>The other variations, with the black-squared Bishop, do have the advantage of developing a new piece, but they are also more "tactical" and lead to earlier conflict. If I understand your question correctly, that's precisely what you want to <strong>avoid.</strong></p>
