♘ Still in Book

3.Bd3 Nf6 4.Qe2

Owen's Defense

1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 Nf6 4.Qe2 e6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.O-O c5

White defends e4 with the queen, and Black plays a French-like setup with ...e6, ...d5 and ...c5.

Practice this line

The idea

After 3.Bd3 Nf6 4.Qe2 e6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.O-O c5, the center is closed as in the French Defense, but Black's bishop is on b7 instead of c8. Wikipedia calls this the most common continuation, popularized by Pavel Blatny.

Plans for White

Use the space the e5 pawn gives: c3 to support d4, Nbd2, and a kingside attack with the bishop on d3 aimed at h7. The queen on e2 supports e5 and can swing to the kingside.

Plans for Black

Attack the pawn chain at its base with ...c5 and ...Nc6, and use the bishop on b7 against d5 and the light squares. Black usually castles kingside, or keeps the king in the center while the queenside play develops.

Watch out for

For Black, h7. With the bishop on d3 and White's pieces pointed at the kingside, castling too early can allow Bxh7+ sacrifices or a quick attack.

For White, overextending. The pawns on d4 and e5 are strong only while they're supported, and ...cxd4 plus ...Nc6 can make them targets.