Owen's Defense

The idea

With 1...b6, Black prepares ...Bb7 to aim the bishop down the long diagonal at e4 and, further on, at White's kingside. Black lets White build a big center with 2.d4, planning to attack it later with ...e6, ...c5 and ...f5 or ...d5.

Owen's Defense is uncommon and its reputation is dubious: ...b6 doesn't help Black castle kingside, and White can take the center. Christian Bauer still writes that with reasonable play White gets only a slight advantage.

Plans for White

Take the center with 2.d4 and protect e4, most often with Bd3 or Nc3, so the bishop on b7 bites on granite. Develop quickly, castle and use the extra space. Against ...f5 ideas, look for an opening of lines toward Black's king.

Plans for Black

Fianchetto with ...Bb7, then choose a structure: ...e6 and ...c5 to hit d4, ...Nf6 and ...d5 in a French-like setup, or ...g6 and ...Bg7 to transpose to the Hippopotamus. The bishop on b7 is Black's best piece, so keep its diagonal open.

Watch out for

For Black, ...f5 too early. After 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6, Black's kingside opens up fast; Christian Bauer calls 3...f5 simply suicidal. One wrong move and it's mate (see the trap).

For White, letting the bishop on b7 come alive. If e4 is left loose or traded off carelessly, the bishop hits g2 and White's kingside.

History

Gioachino Greco's 17th-century writings already contain three games with 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7. The opening is named after John Owen, who used 1...b6 as his main defense for most of his career. In 1889 Isidor Gunsberg played it seven times at the US Chess Congress, scoring four wins, one loss and two draws.

It came back in the 1970s, when it was taken up by freethinkers such as Bent Larsen and Michael Basman, and it has since appeared in top online blitz events.