Owen Defense: all variations and ECO codes
8 named lines across 1 ECO code (B00). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.
The idea
Black fianchettoes the queen’s bishop immediately against 1.e4, aiming it at the long diagonal and White’s kingside before developing anything else. It’s a rare, hypermodern try that concedes the center outright in exchange for pressure down that one diagonal, with little independent theory beyond that single idea.
The main line
How the main line scores at your rating
Real Lichess win rates for 1.e4 b6, playing as black: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.
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| Rating band | Games | White / draw / Black | Score for black | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1400-1600 | 2,326 | 49.1% / 3.9% / 47.0% | 49.0% | ||
| 1600-1800 | 2,630 | 48.9% / 4.2% / 46.9% | 49.0% | ||
| 1800-2000 | 1,766 | 50.3% / 4.6% / 45.1% | 47.4% | ||
| 2000+ | 582 | Not enough games at this band yet. | |||
All 8 named variations
Every named line in the Owen Defense family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.
- B00Owen Defense (main line)1.e4 b6
- B00Guatemala Defense1.e4 b6 2.d4 Ba6
- B00Hekili-Loa Gambit1.e4 b6 2.d4 c5 3.dxc5 Nc6
- B00Matovinsky Gambit1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 f5 4.exf5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6
- B00Naselwaus Gambit1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bg5
- B00Smith Gambit1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nf3
- B00Unicorn Variation1.e4 f6 2.d4 b6 3.c4 Bb7
- B00Wind Gambit1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.f3 e5
Browse more
ECO Volume B: Semi-Open Games (other than the French Defense) → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →
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56 named lines, ECO B02
Caro-Kann Defense
110 named lines, ECO B10
King’s Pawn Game
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