Owen Defense

Owen Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code B00. It goes 1. e4 b6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... b6. After 2 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... b6 – Black plays the pawn to b6

About the Owen Defense

Black answers 1.e4 with 1...b6 and ...Bb7, hitting e4 from afar. It is offbeat and gives White an easy centre.

• The Bb7 bishop pressures e4 along the long diagonal.
• Black follows with ...e6, ...Nf6 and ...c5 to fight the centre.
• White simply defends e4 with Bd3 and takes space.

Related openings

• It extends: King's Pawn Game (1. e4)
• Continues with: Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense – adds 2. d4 Ba6
• Continues with: Owen Defense: Hekili-Loa Gambit – adds 2. d4 c5 3. dxc5 Nc6
• Continues with: Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit – adds 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5
• Continues with: Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit – adds 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bg5
• Continues with: Owen Defense: Smith Gambit – adds 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nf3
• Continues with: Owen Defense: Wind Gambit – adds 2. d4 Bb7 3. f3 e5
• Related line: Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense (1. e4 b6 2. d4 Ba6)
• Related line: Owen Defense: Hekili-Loa Gambit (1. e4 b6 2. d4 c5 3. dxc5 Nc6)
• Related line: Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit (1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5 4. exf5 Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6)
• Related line: Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit (1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bg5)
• Related line: Owen Defense: Smith Gambit (1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nf3)
• Related line: Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation (1. e4 f6 2. d4 b6 3. c4 Bb7)

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