Openings
- Chess Atlas Subsections
- VOL. I • Chess HistoryFrom Chaturanga to Neural Engines
- VOL. II • Classic ChessPieces, Notation & Rules
- VOL. III • Legendary PlayersPantheon of Chess Immortals
- VOL. IV • Great GamesInteractive game studies
- VOL. V • OpeningsOriginal CAISSORA Opening Articles
- VOL. VI • Tactics & StrategyForks, Pins & Board Geometry
Owen Defense
A bishop on b7 and a hope that the opponent is unprepared
- Fianchetto
- Hypermodern
Against 1.e4 Black plays 1…b6 and prepares to fianchetto the c8 bishop. Black does not stop White from taking the centre, but plans to pressure it from afar along the long diagonal. To be plain, the opening is thought unreliable: Black has a harder time equalising than in the standard defences. But hardly anyone prepares for it seriously, and that is the main reason people choose it.
4…c5
Moves
(8 plies • 4 moves)- 1–4moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
Defining move
1…b6 — the bishop is bound for b7
The move that sets the whole character of the opening
The b6 pawn clears the way for the bishop, which then eyes e4 across the whole board. Black grabs nothing and hurries nothing: Black waits for White to build the centre, then strikes at it with …e6 and …c5. The risk is that White gets plenty of space while Black's answer is slow to arrive.
Tabiya
White holds the centre, Black prepares a counter-blow
After 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 White has a sturdy centre and extra room. The b7 bishop bumps against the e4 pawn and waits for the centre to open. Black tries to break up the d4 pawn with …c5, while White tries to hold the centre and cash in the extra space.
White’s plan
- Take the centre with d4 and e4 and not hurry to trade it.
- Develop quickly and castle while Black is still setting up.
- Meet a premature …f5 with the capture exf5: it is usually punished by tactics.
Black’s plan
- Put the bishop on b7 and press on e4 along the long diagonal.
- Hit the centre with pawns: …e6 and …c5, sometimes …d5.
- Count on the opponent not knowing this structure.
History
The opening is named after the English clergyman John Owen, a strong amateur who played 1…b6 often and beat Paul Morphy with it in 1858. Interest returned in the 1970s, when Bent Larsen and Michael Basman took it up.
Notable players
Bent LarsenLegends who played it
- JJohn Owenas Black · Named after the player
Games in the Atlas
No games in the Atlas yet