c5 vs. the Catalan

Hey chess lovers,

I was just wondering how c5 stacked up agianst the Catalan. For example:

Now, I am not a Benoni expert, and although I want to be one eventually right now I am studing the Catalan. So I kinda want to cheat and just ask chess.com comunity what they think of the above position. Horrible for black? White cowers in fear? Small advantage for white?

Thanks :D

It's a Catalan only after ...d5. If Black plays c5 then, it'll usually transpose to a QGD Tarrasch.

The name of the opening is something secondary. If you are a Catalan player, then you can go on with the Catalan-like setup, even if Black plays c5. If the name of the opening changes, well so what?

Back to your OP, the very strongest weapon of the Catalan is White's light squared bishop. I personally find much more difficult to play against a c6-like setup than c5. Ok, you can exchange on d4, just like in the Sicilian, but that way you are giving white a longer diagonal, and that causes black problems.

HTH.