Openings Other answers to 1.e4

Owen Defense (1...b6): Lines, Plans and Stats by Rating

1...b6 prepares ...Bb7 to hit e4 from far away. It is easy to learn and avoids theory, but it hands White the center, and if Black is slow to challenge it White gets an easy space advantage.

For Black1.e4 b6Seen in 1.1% of rated games

Lichess rating

B00Owen Defense

Games from this position (1600–1999): 78k

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
46%	36k	51%45%
25%	20k	50%46%
8%	6,154	48%48%
8%	6,093	50%46%
5%	3,829	50%46%
2%	1,896	49%46%
1.0%	749	50%45%
0.9%	729	53%42%
0.7%	539	49%47%
0.5%	410	47%49%
0.5%	388	50%46%
0.4%	318	50%46%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 is the most common setup at 2000+: the bishop protects e4 and points at the kingside.
3.Nc3 also protects e4; follow up with Nf3, O-O and Re1.
Do not hurry with e5 or d5; a solid center backed by c3 or c4 is enough.

Black

After 3.Bd3 play 3...e6 with ...c5 or ...Nf6: hit the center before White finishes developing.
The b7 bishop is your best piece, so keep the long diagonal open.
If White plays 3.d5, attack the pawn at once with ...e6 or ...Nf6.

Owen Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.e4 b6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	24k0.8%	50%46%	2.Nf331%
1200–1599	73k1.2%	49%47%	2.d437%
1600–1999	78k1.2%	50%46%	2.d446%
2000+	11k0.5%	51%44%	2.d465%
All	187k1.1%	50%46%	2.d442%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

The main line: Black plays ...c5 and ...Nf6, and White holds the center with c3.
187 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 5% were drawn, Black won 43%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3
Black pins the knight with ...Bb4 to keep up the pressure on e4.
8,931 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 4% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bd3
White blocks the bishop, but the d5 pawn needs support; ...e6 and ...Nf6 go after it.
3,598 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 4% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.d5 e6 4.c4
Both bishops go to the long diagonals and fight e4 and d4 from the sides.
3,585 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 4% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 g6

Common traps

3...f5?! 4.exf5 Bxg2? 5.Qh5+

Grabbing the g2 pawn spends the move Black needed for ...Nf6, so 5.Qh5+ comes down the open e8–h5 diagonal. After 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 the natural 6...Nf6?? loses at once: 7.gxh7+ is a discovered check, and after 7...Nxh5 8.Bg6 is mate.

Fewer than 6 games in our data reached the end of this line.

Show on the board: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fxg6 Nf6 7.gxh7+ Nxh5 8.Bg6#(ends in mate)

At club level

Below 1200 three in ten answer 2...Bb7 with 3.d5, which blocks the bishop but leaves the pawn loose. At 2000+ half play 3.Bd3. White scores about 55% after 3.Bd3, so the Owen is a surprise weapon rather than a main repertoire.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

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