Opening family
Owen Defense Lines and Variations
The Owen Defense family contains 8 named lines in this opening book, spanning ECO B00. Use this page as the map, then open individual lines for exact move orders and diagrams.
How to study this family
White
White should use the move order as a checkpoint: finish development, identify the central break, and compare the continuations below before memorizing moves.
Black
Black should ask what White is threatening in the center, then choose development moves that prepare a clean pawn break or a useful exchange.
Start with the shortest line, then branch to the variations that change the pawn structure or tactical target. Memorizing every branch before understanding the family plan is usually wasted work.
Main named lines
- B00 · Owen Defense
- B00 · Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense
- B00 · Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit
- B00 · Owen Defense: Smith Gambit
- B00 · Owen Defense: Hekili-Loa Gambit
- B00 · Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation
- B00 · Owen Defense: Wind Gambit
- B00 · Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit
Deep theory branches
- 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5 4. exf5 Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6 — Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit
- 1. e4 b6 2. d4 c5 3. dxc5 Nc6 — Owen Defense: Hekili-Loa Gambit
- 1. e4 f6 2. d4 b6 3. c4 Bb7 — Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation
- 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. f3 e5 — Owen Defense: Wind Gambit
- 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bg5 — Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit
- 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nf3 — Owen Defense: Smith Gambit
- 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Ba6 — Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense
- 1. e4 b6 — Owen Defense