Owen Defense
| Owen Defense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trains | 1. e2-e4 b7-b6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ECO key | B00 and A40 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | John Owen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Owen defense , also known as the English defense or women's fianchetto , is an opening of the game of chess . It is one of the semi - open games and is classified in the ECO codes as " irregular opening " under B00 and A40.
The Owen Defense arises after the moves:
- 1. e2-e4 b7-b6
The characteristic positions of the Owen defense are often achieved by changing moves after 1. c2 – c4 or 1. d2 – d4, optionally with 1.… e7 – e6 and 2.… b7 – b6.
history
The Owen defense is named after the British clergyman and strong amateur chess player John Owen (1827–1901), who successfully used the move 1.… b7 – b6 in numerous games in the middle of the 19th century. His finely played victory against the dominant player of the time, the American Paul Morphy , in 1858 in London is remarkable . Strange but true: had seven Black In subsequent competition between the two over seven games in which Morphy and each farmers f7 pretending , Owen get only two draws .
In the 19th century until the turn of the century, other contemporary chess greats such as Joseph Henry Blackburne , Johannes Hermann Zukertort or Louis Paulsen occasionally used the Owen defense; even the young Alexander Alekhine , 20 years later world chess champion , opened a game with 1.… b7 – b6 in 1907.
In the latter half of the 20th century, British grandmaster Tony Miles was an advocate of women's fianchetto . Between 1971 and his untimely death in 2001 he played over 60 tournament games with this structure. Also Bent Larsen opened a few games with it (it is named after the analog Larsen system : 1. b2-b3). In current professional chess, the French grandmaster Christian Bauer , known for his penchant for unconventional openings, often uses the Owen defense.
Main systems
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
8th |
| 7th |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 |  |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
Frequently played moves: 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nf6
The following is largely undisputed:
1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7
This is because black renounces the center and white can gratefully accept this offer.
3. Bd3
The following moves are often played:
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8th |
| 7th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
Another not uncommon variant: 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6
1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nf6
White has the better position (approx. + 0.5 depending on the engine ) and also a higher winning rate (approx. 40% wins for white, approx. 30% wins for black). On his next move, White should be careful not to play the pawn on e5, because this will give the black bishop a strong diagonal on b7. Instead White should play 6. Qe2 to strengthen the center.
When White plays the pawn on c3, the first problem arises as to where to develop the b-knight. This can be solved by using d2 and after castling and Re1 to bring the knight to the kingside using f1.
3. Nc3
The following sequence of moves is also not uncommon: 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6
Guatemala Defense
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8th |
| 7th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
Guatemala Defense
The basic position is reached by the following moves:
1. e4 b6 2. d4 Ba6
An advantageous position for White comes from:
3. Bxa6 Nxa6 4. Nf3 Qc8 !? 5 .0–0 Qb7 6. Re1 e6 7. c4
Greco's Matt / Matovinsky Gambit
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8th |
| 7th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
Greco's mate after 8. Bd3 – g6 #
The Italian chess master Gioachino Greco (* around 1600; † 1634) demonstrated an instructive mate turn that arises from the Owen defense . She is known in chess literature as "Greco's Matt".
After the trains:
- 1. e2-e4 b7-b6
- 2. d2-d4 Bc8-b7
- 3. Bf1 – d3 f7 – f5?
- 4. e4xf5 Bb7xg2
- 5. Qd1-h5 + g7-g6
- 6. f5xg6 Ng8 – f6 ??
checkmates white under queen sacrifice:
- 7. g6xh7 +! Nf6xh5
- 8. Bd3 – g6 # (see diagram).
The characteristic of this matt motif can also be found - each with swapped colors - in Froms Gambit and the well-known fool's matt. All positions have in common the missing f-pawn protecting the king and the associated weakening of the diagonals h5 – e8 and h4 – e1.
It should be noted that instead of 6.… Ng8 – f6 ?? 6.… Bf8 – g7! is much better, but with the best game White wins.
Opening idea
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8th |
| 7th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
White can lose the center pawn on e4 if the game is played carelessly: 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd2 Bxc3 6. Bxc3 Bxe4
Unlike in the Queen's Indian Defense or in variants of the Dutch Defense with Fianchetto of the Queen's bishop, in which the black player tries to control the central e4 square and prevent White's pawn move e2 – e4, Black's strategy of the Owen defense lies in the attack of the pawn e4. The thematic advance f7 – f5 plays an important role in many variations.
The term “English defense” is common for the modern treatment of the Owen defense, in which White has already drawn c2 – c4 and thus developed one piece less compared to the immediate 1.… b7 – b6. b7 – b6 is only moved to c2 – c4 to soften White's attack. For example after 1. d2 – d4 e7 – e6 2. c2 – c4 b7 – b6; this gives Black the option of bishop chess Bf8 – b4 +, with which he can gain time , as the chess can no longer be parried with the counterattack c2 – c3.
Players who are less familiar with the opening can (especially in blitz chess ) lose a center pawn if they do not quickly realize how much pressure is being exerted on e4:
1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd2 Bxc3 6. Bxc3 Bxe4
literature
- Christian Bauer: Play 1.… b6: A Dynamic and Hypermodern Opening System for Black . Everyman Chess, London 2005, ISBN 1-85744-410-8 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Morphy - Owen, London 1858, for replay
- ^ Budberg - Alekhine, Moscow 1907, for replay
- ↑ a b c GM Eugene Perlshteyn: GM Eugene Perelshteyn teaches you how to crush the Owen defense. Retrieved April 8, 2018 .
- ↑ 365Chess.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018 .
- ↑ 365chess.com. Retrieved April 6, 2018 .
- ↑ A system of the Owen defense with games