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{{Short description|Chess opening}}
{{Infobox chess opening
{{Infobox chess opening
|openingname = Owen's Defence
|openingname = Owen's Defence
Line 19: Line 20:
|nameorigin = [[John Owen (chess player)|Rev. John Owen]]
|nameorigin = [[John Owen (chess player)|Rev. John Owen]]
|parentopening = [[King's Pawn Opening]]
|parentopening = [[King's Pawn Opening]]
|AKA= Queen's Fianchetto Defence <br />Greek Defence
|AKA= Queen's Fianchetto Defence
|chessgid=1395783&move=2&moves=e4.b6
|chessgid=1395783&move=2&moves=e4.b6
}}
}}


'''Owen's Defence''' (also known as the '''Queen's Fianchetto Defence'''<ref name="OxfordCompanion2ndp.286"/> or '''Greek Defence'''<ref>[https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/eco.htm&date=2010-02-20+10:14:24 ''ECO'' codes with names] by Bill Wall.</ref>) is an uncommon [[chess opening]] defined by the moves:
'''Owen's Defence''' (also known as the '''Queen's Fianchetto Defence'''<ref name="OxfordCompanion2ndp.286"/>) is an uncommon [[chess opening]] defined by the moves:
:1. [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4|e4]] [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...b6|b6]]
:1. [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4|e4]] [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...b6|b6]]


By playing 1...b6, Black prepares to fianchetto the {{chessgloss|queen's bishop}} where it will participate in the battle for the {{chessgloss|centre}}. The downside of this plan is that White can occupy the centre with [[pawn (chess)|pawns]] and gain a {{chessgloss|space|spatial advantage}}. Moreover, 1...b6 does not prepare {{chessgloss|kingside}} [[castling]] as 1...g6 does, and it is harder for Black to augment his pressure against the centre with ...f5, which weakens the kingside, than it is to play the corresponding move ...c5 after 1...g6.<ref name="Bauer2005p.5">[[Christian Bauer]], ''Play 1...b6'', Everyman Chess, 2005, p. 5. {{ISBN|1-85744-410-8}}.</ref> Owen's Defence accordingly has a dubious reputation.<ref>Owen's Defence "enjoyed a brief revival at the hands of American [[International Master|IM]] Regan and Yugoslav [[Grandmaster (chess)|GM]] [[Dragutin Sahović|Sahović]]. Unfortunately, the attention it received unearthed more accurate lines for White and it is currently considered insufficient." [[Garry Kasparov]] and [[Raymond Keene]], ''Batsford Chess Openings 2'', Collier Books, 1989, p. 228. {{ISBN|0-02-033991-7}}.</ref><ref>Owen's Defence is "viewed by theory as unreliable". [[Nick de Firmian]], ''[[Modern Chess Openings]]'', 15th edition, Random House Puzzles & Games, 2008, p. 385. {{ISBN|978-0-8129-3682-7}}.</ref><ref>"Owen's Defence ... is regarded by current theory as suspicious". Bauer 2005, p. 7.</ref> The move ...b6 has been played on the first or second move by [[Grandmaster (chess)|grandmasters]] [[Jonathan Speelman]], [[Pavel Blatny]], [[Tony Miles]], [[Edvins Kengis]], and [[Normunds Miezis]], and [[International Master]]s Bricard and Filipovic. <ref>Bauer 2005, p. 6.</ref>
By playing 1...b6, Black prepares to [[fianchetto]] the {{chessgloss|queen's bishop}} where it will participate in the battle for the {{chessgloss|centre}}. The downside of this plan is that White can occupy the centre with [[pawn (chess)|pawns]] and gain a {{chessgloss|space|spatial advantage}}. Moreover, 1...b6 does not prepare {{chessgloss|kingside}} [[castling]] as 1...g6 does, and it is harder for Black to augment their pressure against the centre with ...f5, which weakens the kingside, than it is to play the corresponding move ...c5 after 1...g6.<ref name="Bauer2005p.5">[[Christian Bauer]], ''Play 1...b6'', Everyman Chess, 2005, p. 5. {{ISBN|1-85744-410-8}}.</ref> Owen's Defence accordingly has a dubious reputation.<ref>Owen's Defence "enjoyed a brief revival at the hands of American [[International Master|IM]] Regan and Yugoslav [[Grandmaster (chess)|GM]] [[Dragutin Sahović|Sahović]]. Unfortunately, the attention it received unearthed more accurate lines for White and it is currently considered insufficient." [[Garry Kasparov]] and [[Raymond Keene]], ''Batsford Chess Openings 2'', Collier Books, 1989, p. 228. {{ISBN|0-02-033991-7}}.</ref><ref>Owen's Defence is "viewed by theory as unreliable". [[Nick de Firmian]], ''[[Modern Chess Openings]]'', 15th edition, Random House Puzzles & Games, 2008, p. 385. {{ISBN|978-0-8129-3682-7}}.</ref><ref>"Owen's Defence ... is regarded by current theory as suspicious". Bauer 2005, p. 7.</ref>

Instead of fianchettoing, Black can also play his bishop to the a6–f1 diagonal (the Guatemala Defence).


Owen's Defence is classified as code B00 by the ''[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]]''.
Owen's Defence is classified as code B00 by the ''[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]]''.
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==History==
==History==
The 17th-century writings of [[Gioachino Greco]] contain three games featuring 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7.<ref name=Hoffmann>Louis Hoffmann, ''The Chess Games of Greco'', George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1900, pp. 82–86.</ref>
The opening is named after the English vicar and strong 19th-century amateur chess player [[John Owen (chess player)|John Owen]], an early exponent.<ref name="OxfordCompanion2ndp.286">[[David Hooper (chess player)|David Hooper]] and [[Kenneth Whyld]], ''[[The Oxford Companion to Chess]]'' (2nd ed. 1992), p. 286. {{ISBN|0-19-866164-9}}.</ref> [[Howard Staunton]] wrote in 1847 that 1.e4 b6, "which the Italians call 'Il [[Fianchetto]] di Donna,' although disapproved of by the earlier writers, may be made by the second player without harm, if followed speedily by [...e6] and [...c5]."<ref name="Staunton1847p.379">Howard Staunton, ''The Chess-Player's Handbook'', Henry G. Bohn, 1847, p. 379.</ref>

The first master strength player to employ 1.e4 b6 on a regular basis was the 19th-century vicar and strong amateur chess player [[John Owen (chess player)|John Owen]],<ref name="OxfordCompanion2ndp.286">[[David Hooper (chess player)|David Hooper]] and [[Kenneth Whyld]], ''[[The Oxford Companion to Chess]]'' (2nd ed. 1992), p. 286. {{ISBN|0-19-866164-9}}.</ref> after whom the opening is named. Owen seems to have used 1.e4 b6 as his main defence for the majority of his career, including in two games against [[Paul Morphy]] in 1858 (scoring one win<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1266597 Paul Morphy vs John Owen, London m2 1858] ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.</ref> and one loss.<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1266598 Paul Morphy vs John Owen, London m2 1858] ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-12.</ref>)


In 1889, Owen's Defence was played seven times by [[Isidor Gunsberg]] at the US Chess Congress (scoring +4,=2,-1), but the opening was otherwise a very rare visitor in master level chess until the 1970s when it was adopted by freethinkers such as [[Bent Larsen]] and [[Michael Basman]]. In more recent times Owen's Defence has been played with some regularity by [[Grandmaster (chess)|grandmasters]] [[Pavel Blatny]], [[Artashes Minasian]], [[Nona Gaprindashvili]], [[Tony Miles]], [[Edvīns Ķeņģis]], and [[Normunds Miezis]], and by [[International Master]]s [[Christian Bauer|Bauer]], Bricard and Filipovic.<ref>Bauer 2005, p. 6.</ref> The opening remains rare but has enjoyed a certain amount of popularity in top-level online blitz tournaments, including in games by [[Alireza Firouzja]], [[Magnus Carlsen]], [[Hikaru Nakamura]], [[Ian Nepomniachtchi]] and [[Teimour Radjabov]].
Using his opening, Owen defeated [[Paul Morphy]] in an informal game in London, 1858.<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1266597 Paul Morphy vs John Owen, London m2 1858] ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.</ref> An additional game in the match featuring this opening, where Owen varied on move 5, was won by Morphy.<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1266598 Paul Morphy vs John Owen, London m2 1858] ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-12.</ref>


==Theory==
==Theory==
The [[Chess theory#Opening theory|theory]] of Owen's Defence is less developed than that of other openings. This makes it attractive to some players, since their opponents will often be ill-prepared for it and hence forced to think for themselves.<ref name="Bauer2005p.5"/> [[Grandmaster (chess)|GM]] [[Christian Bauer]] observes:<ref>Bauer 2005, p. 7.</ref> <blockquote>To be honest, I don't think Black can equalise as quickly with 1...b6 as he sometimes does in standard openings, and he may suffer against a well-prepared opponent. Then again, the well-prepared opponent is rare for such marginal variations as 1...b6, and in any case, with reasonable play I'm sure White can't get more than a slight advantage from the opening – a risk [[First-move advantage in chess|everyone is running as Black]], aren't they?</blockquote>
The [[Chess theory#Opening theory|theory]] of Owen's Defence is less developed than that of other openings. This makes it attractive to some players, since their opponents will often be ill-prepared for it and hence forced to think for themselves.<ref name="Bauer2005p.5"/> [[Grandmaster (chess)|GM]] [[Christian Bauer]] observes:<ref>Bauer 2005, p. 7.</ref> <blockquote>To be honest, I don't think Black can equalise as quickly with 1...b6 as he sometimes does in standard openings, and he may suffer against a well-prepared opponent. Then again, the well-prepared opponent is rare for such marginal variations as 1...b6, and in any case, with reasonable play I'm sure White can't get more than a slight advantage from the opening – a risk [[First-move advantage in chess|everyone is running as Black]], aren't they?</blockquote>


{{Chess diagram small
According to ''[[Modern Chess Openings|MCO-15]]'', after '''2. d4 Bb7''' White gets the advantage with either:
| tright
⚫
* '''3. Bd3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nf6''' (5...cxd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Qe2 d5 9.e5 Ne4 10.0-0{{chesspunc|!?}} Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxc3 12.Qe3 Nc6 13.Bb2 Ne4 14.Ba3 and White had a large advantage in [[Michael Adams (chess player)|Adams]]–Vanderwaeren, Moscow Olympiad 1994) '''6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. a3{{chesspunc|!}} d5 8. e5 Nfd7 9. b4 Be7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Re1''' "with a clear plus", or
|
* '''3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qxf6 9. 0-0 d6 10. Nd2 e5 11. f4 Qe7 12. Qg4''', as in David–Bauer, France 2005.<ref name="MCO-15p.385"/>
|rd|nd| |qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|bd| |pd| |pd|pd|pd
| |pd| | |pd| | |
| | |pd| | | | |
| | | |pl|pl| | |
| | |pl|bl| |nl| |
|pl|pl| | | |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl| | |rl
|Position after 5.c3
}}
After '''1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7''' the mainline has historically been '''3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3''' (4.c4 would transpose to the [[English Defence]]) '''c5 5.c3''' (see diagram), after which ''[[Modern Chess Openings|MCO-15]]''<ref name="MCO-15p.385">de Firmian 2008, p. 385.</ref> gives clear advantage to White after either:


'''5…Nf6 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.a3! d5 8.e5 Nfd7 9.b4 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1'''
Black may also be able to transpose into forms of the [[Hippopotamus Defence]], by playing ...g6 and ...Bg7, attaining a double fianchetto formation. This approach was used by GM [[Boris Spassky]] in games 12 and 16 of his 1966 World Championship match against the then World Champion [[Tigran Petrosian]]; Spassky drew both games. It had been developed and played by the Slovakian [[International Master]] [[Maximilian Ujtelky]] a few years before this.


⚫
or '''5...cxd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Qe2 d5 9.e5 Ne4 10.0-0!? Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxc3 12.Qe3 Nc6 13.Bb2 Ne4 14.Ba3''' [[Michael Adams (chess player)|Adams]]–Vanderwaeren, Moscow Olympiad 1994).
⚫
==Illustrative games==

GM [[John K. Shaw|John Shaw]] has suggested that White may fare even better by opting for 5.Nc3<ref>John Shaw, ''Playing 1.e4: Caro-Kann, 1...e5 & Minor Lines'', Quality Chess, 2020, chapter 20</ref> after which Black has little option but to play ...cxd4 (either immediately or in the next few moves) transposing into an unorthodox type of Open [[Sicilian Defence|Sicilian]] where Black has played an early ...b6/...Bb7.

According to IM [[Lawrence Trent]], 4…c5 has ‘generally been almost refuted by cloud engines’.<ref>Trent, Lawrence. ''1...b6 Against Everything'' (Chessable.com, 2021)</ref> He therefore suggests that Black may be better off exploring the sideline '''4…d5'''. Possibilities offered by Trent include '''5.e5 Ba6''', which gives an Advance [[French Defence|French]] type structure where Black can swiftly exchange off his bad bishop, and '''5.exd Qxd 6.Nc3 Qd8''' where the structure might be taken to resemble either an unusual form of Qd8 [[Scandinavian Defence|Scandinavian]] or a rare type of Exchange [[French Defence|French]] where Black had re-captured with the Queen to keep the pawn structure asymmetrical (i.e. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e4xd5 Qxd5!?).
{{Chess diagram small
{{Chess diagram small
| tright
| tright
|
⚫
| Speelman vs. Basman, 1984
| | | |qd| | |kd|
|rd|nd| |qd|kd|bd| |rd
|rd| |pd|pd|bd|rd| |pd
|pd|bd| |nd| |pd|pd|pd
|pd|pd|nd| | | |pd|bl
| |pd| | |pd| | |
| | | |ql| |pd| |nl
| | |pd|pd|pl| | |
|pl| | | | | | |
| | | |pl| | | |
| | | | |rl| | |
| | | |bl| |nl| |
| |pl|pl| | |pl|pl|pl
|pl|pl|pl| |ql|pl|pl|pl
| | | | |rl| |kl|
|rl|nl|bl| | |rl|kl|
| Final position after 20.Rge3
|French-type handling of the opening, position after 7...c5
}}
}}


German opening theoretician FM Klaus Gewehns<ref> Gawehns, Klaus. Theorie und Praxis: Owen-Verteidigung, ''Kaissiber'' 30 & 32, 2008</ref> considered much of the complex after 3.Bd3 e6 to be dangerous for Black and instead concentrated on '''3...Nf6''' (as often played by Owen's Defence specialist [[Pavel Blatny]]), the most frequently played continuation here is '''4.Qe2 e6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.0-0 c5''' (see diagram), another French-type handling of the opening.
⚫
[[Jonathan Speelman|Speelman]] vs. [[Michael Basman|Basman]], [[British Chess Championship|British Championship]] 1984:<br />
⚫
'''1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 b6 3. d4 Bb7''' {{chessgloss|transposition|Transposing}} to a position more commonly reached by 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6. '''4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Nge2 c5 6. d5! a6''' 6...exd5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Bxd5 9.Nf4 Bc6 (9...Be6{{chesspunc|?}} 10.Be4 wins; 9...Qe7+!?)<ref name="Inf38p.74"/> 10.Bc4! "gives White strong pressure".<ref>Watson & Schiller 1995, p. 111.</ref> '''7. a4 exd5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Bxd5 10. Nf4 Be6 11. Be4 Ra7 12. 0-0 Be7''' [[John L. Watson|Watson]] and [[Eric Schiller|Schiller]] also give 12...g6 13.a5! as favoring White after 13...bxa5 14.Bd2 or 13...b5 14.Be3 d6 15.b4 Be7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qg4 Qc8 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Bh6, intending Rad1, Rfe1, and h4–h5 "with great pressure for just a pawn".<ref>Watson & Schiller 1995, p. 114.</ref> '''13. Ra3 0-0 14. Rg3 f5 15. Bd5 Rf6?''' Better is 15...Bxd5!? 16.Qxd5+ Rf7 17.Nh5 with a strong attack.<ref name="Inf38p.74">Speelman's annotations in ''Chess Informant'', Volume 38, Šahovski Informator, 1985, p. 74.</ref> '''16. Re1 Bxd5 17. Qxd5+ Rf7 18. Nh5 g6 19. Bh6 Nc6 20. Rge3''' (see diagram) '''1–0'''<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1130051 Speelman–Basman, British Championship 1984]. ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.</ref> White threatens 21.Nf6+! Bxf6 (21...Kh8 22.Qxf7) 22.Re8+. On 20...gxh5, 21.Rg3+ wins; 20...Bf8 21.Re8 gxh5 23.Bxf8!; 20...Ra8 21.Rxe7! Nxe7 and now either 22.Rxe7 Qxe7 23.Qxa8+ or 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qxf7 wins.<ref name="Inf38p.74"/>


{{Chess diagram small
==Matovinsky Gambit==
| tright
A pitfall for Black in this opening, the '''Matovinsky Gambit''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1243022|title=Gioachino Greco vs NN (1619) When in Rome|author=|date=|website=www.chessgames.com|accessdate=9 April 2018}}</ref> dates from a game by the 17th-century Italian chess player and writer [[Gioachino Greco]].
|
|rd|nd| | |kd| | |rd
|pd|bd|pd|pd| |pd|pd|
| |pd| | |pd|qd| |pd
| | | | | | | |
| | | |pl|pl| | |
| | |pl|bl| |nl| |
|pl| |pl| | |pl|pl|pl
|rl| | |ql|kl| | |rl
|Position after 8...Qxf6
}}
The main 3rd move alternative for White has been to defend the e4 pawn with '''3.Nc3''', after which a typical continuation would be '''3...e6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qxf6''' (see diagram), ''MCO-15'' now gives advantage to White following '''9.0-0 d6 10.Nd2 e5 11.f4 Qe7 12.Qg4''', as in David–[[Christian Bauer|Bauer]], France 2005.


Greco–{{chessgloss|NN}}, 1619: '''1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5?''' Bauer calls this move "simply suicidal".<ref name="Bauer2005, p.25">Bauer 2005, p. 25.</ref> Black gravely weakens his kingside in an attempt to gain {{chessgloss|material}}, but White can win by falling into Black's "trap". Normal is 3...e6 or 3...Nf6.<ref>Bauer 2005, pp. 24–25.</ref> Also possible is 3...g6 ("{{chesspunc|!}}" – Andrew Martin) heading for a [[Hippopotamus Defence]], when Martin considers 4.f4 f5! (as in the game Serpik–Blatny, U.S. Open 2003)<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1462497 Serpik–Blatny, U.S. Open 2003]. ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.</ref> strong for Black.<ref>Andrew Martin, ''The Hippopotamus Rises: The Re-Emergence of a Chess Opening'', Batsford, 2005, p. 112. {{ISBN|978-0-7134-8989-7}}.</ref> '''4. exf5! Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6 6. fxg6''' (diagram) '''Nf6{{chesspunc|??}} 7. gxh7+ Nxh5 8. Bg6# 1–0'''<ref>Professor Hoffmann, ''The Chess Games of Greco'', George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1900, p. 84.</ref>
Instead of playing 3...e6, Black may also transpose into the [[Hippopotamus Defence]] by playing 3...g6 and 4...Bg7, attaining a double fianchetto formation. This approach was used by GM [[Boris Spassky]] in games 12 and 16 of his 1966 World Championship match against the then World Champion [[Tigran Petrosian]]; Spassky drew both games. It had been developed and played by the Slovakian [[International Master]] [[Maximilian Ujtelky]] a few years before this. If White plays 3.Bd3 g6 4.f4 Andrew Martin considers 4...f5! to be strong,<ref>Andrew Martin, ''The Hippopotamus Rises: The Re-Emergence of a Chess Opening'', Batsford, 2005, p. 112. {{ISBN|978-0-7134-8989-7}}.</ref> citing the game Serpik–Blatny, U.S. Open 2003.<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1462497 Serpik–Blatny, U.S. Open 2003]. ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.</ref>


{{Chess diagram small
{{Chess diagram small
| tleft
| tright
| Greco vs. NN, 1619
| Greco vs. NN, 1619
|rd|nd| |qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|rd|nd| |qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
Line 83: Line 110:
| Position after 6.fxg6
| Position after 6.fxg6
}}
}}
A better try for Black is 6...Bg7! Staunton wrote in 1847 that White got the advantage with 7.gxh7+ Kf8 8.hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 9.Qg4 Bxh1 10.h4 e6 11.h5.<ref name="Staunton1847p.379"/> Over 120 years later, Black improved on this analysis with both 10...Qf8 ("!" – Soltis) 11.h5 Qf6 12.h6 Rxh6 13.Bxh6 Qxh6 Hendler–Radchenko, Kiev 1970 and 10...Bd5 ("!" – Kapitaniak) 11.h5 Be6 12.Qg2 Rxh5 Schmit–Vitolins, Latvia 1969, winning quickly in both games.<ref>[[Andrew Soltis]], ''The Defense 1...P–QN3 (1977 Edition)'', Chess Digest, 1977, p. 21.</ref><ref>T. Kapitaniak, ''b6!'', The Chess Player, 1982, p. 44.</ref> However, White is winning after 7.Qf5! (instead of 7.gxh7+) Nf6 8.Bh6{{chesspunc|!!}} Bxh6 (on 8...Kf8, White wins with 9.Bxg7+ Kxg7 10.gxh7 Bxh1 11.Qg6+ Kf8 12.Qh6+ Kf7 transposing to the 9...Bxh1 line below,<ref name="Bauer2005, p.25" /> or 9.Qg5 Bxh1 10.gxh7<ref name="NCOp.123">[[John Nunn]], [[Graham Burgess]], [[John Emms (chess player)|John Emms]], and [[Joseph Gallagher|Joe Gallagher]], ''Nunn's Chess Openings'', Everyman Chess, 1999, p. 123. {{ISBN|1-85744-221-0}}.</ref>) 9.gxh7 and now:
After '''1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3''', the direct '''3...f5?''' is "simply suicidal" according to Bauer.<ref>[[Christian Bauer]], ''Play 1...b6'', Everyman Chess 2005, p.25</ref> In the 17th century Greco had already given the line '''4. exf5! Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6 6. fxg6''' (see diagram) Nf6{{chesspunc|??}} 7. gxh7+ Nxh5 8. Bg6#.<ref>Professor Hoffmann, ''The Chess Games of Greco'', George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1900, p. 84.</ref> A better move for Black is '''6...Bg7''', but White is winning after 7.Qf5! Nf6 8.Bh6{{chesspunc|!!}},<ref>[[Christian Bauer]], ''Play 1...b6'', Everyman Chess 2005, p.25</ref><ref name="NCOp.123">[[John Nunn]], [[Graham Burgess]], [[John Emms (chess player)|John Emms]], and [[Joseph Gallagher|Joe Gallagher]], ''Nunn's Chess Openings'', Everyman Chess, 1999, p. 123. {{ISBN|1-85744-221-0}}.</ref> or the "clearer"<ref>[[John L. Watson|John Watson]], ''Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4'', Gambit Publications, 2010, p. 96. {{ISBN|978-1-906454-19-7}}.</ref> '''7.gxh7+ Kf8 8.Nf3! Nf6''' (8...Bxf3? 9.Qxf3+ Nf6 10.Qxa8; 8...Bxh1 9.Ne5 Bxe5 10.dxe5 Bd5 11.hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 12.Qg6+ Kf8 13.Bh6+) '''9.Qg6 Bxf3''' (9...Bxh1 10.Bh6 Rxh7 11.Ng5 Bxh6 12.Nxh7+ Nxh7 13.Qxh6+) '''10.Rg1 Rxh7 11.Qg3! Be4 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Qf3+ Kg8 14.Qxe4''' with an extra pawn and safer king for White.<ref>Soltis 1977, p. 22.</ref><ref>Kapitaniak 1982, p. 45.</ref><ref>Boris Avrukh, ''1.d4 Volume Two'', Quality Chess, 2010, p. 551. {{ISBN|978-1-906552-33-6}}.</ref>
{{unordered list|style=list-style-position:inside
|9...Kf8 10.Qg6 Bc1 11.Qxg2 Bxb2 12.Ne2 "and Rg1 will prove lethal";<ref name="Bauer2005, p.25" /> or
|9...Bxh1 10.Qg6+ Kf8 11.Qxh6+ Kf7 12.Nh3 with a winning attack.<ref name="MCO-15p.385">de Firmian 2008, p. 385.</ref><ref name="Bauer2005, p.25" /><ref name="NCOp.123"/> Den Broeder–Wegener, correspondence 1982, concluded 12...Qf8 13.Bg6+ Ke6 14.Qf4 d5 15.Bf5+ Kf7 16.Ng5+ Ke8 17.Qxc7 1–0.<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1462538 Den Broeder–Wegener, corr. 1982]. ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-02.</ref>
|9...e6! 10.Qg6+ Ke7 11.Qxg2 and White is two pawns up and Black's king is exposed, but Black is not immediately losing and has avoided the worst, and the pawn on h7 will fall.}}

According to both Soltis and Kapitaniak, 7.gxh7+ Kf8 8.Nf3! (which Soltis attributes to F. A. Spinhoven of the [[Netherlands]]) is also strong: {{unordered list|style=list-style-position:inside
|8...Bxf3? 9.Qxf3+ Nf6 10.Qxa8;
|8...Bxh1 9.Ne5 Bxe5 (9...Qe8 10.Ng6+) 10.dxe5 Bd5 11.hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 12.Qg6+ Kf8 13.Bh6+;
|8...Nf6 9.Qg6 Bxh1 10.Bh6 Rxh7 (10...Bxh6 11.Qxh6+ Kf7 12.Ng5+) 11.Ng5 Bxh6 12.Nxh7+ Nxh7 13.Qxh6+; or
|8...Nf6 9.Qg6 Bxf3 10.Rg1 Rxh7 11.Qg3!! Be4 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Qf3+ Kg8 14.Qxe4 Nc6 (14...d5 15.Qe6+ Kh8 16.Nc3) 15.Bf4 with an extra pawn for White.<ref>Soltis 1977, p. 22.</ref><ref>Kapitaniak 1982, p. 45.</ref> [[Boris Avrukh]] also recommends this line, and notes that 13...Nf6 (instead of 13...Kg8) 14.Qxa8 Rxh2 15.Bf4 Rh4 16.Qg2 Rg4 17.Qh2 leaves White "an exchange up with an easily winning position".<ref>Boris Avrukh, ''1.d4 Volume Two'', Quality Chess, 2010, p. 551. {{ISBN|978-1-906552-33-6}}.</ref>}}

Watson writes that although 7.Qf5! is the "traditional" refutation and does indeed win, "the analysis is complicated", and Spinhoven's 8.Nf3! "is clearer".<ref>[[John L. Watson|John Watson]], ''Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4'', Gambit Publications, 2010, p. 96. {{ISBN|978-1-906454-19-7}}.</ref>
{{clear}}
{{clear}}


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|pl|pl|pl| | |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl
|Guatemala Defence: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Ba6. Black's occupies the a6–f1 diagonal. Although the Guatemala does not evince high opening ambition, neither does it lose {{chessgloss|material}}.
|Guatemala Defence: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Ba6. Black offers a trade of light-squared bishops.
}}
}}


Instead of fianchettoing, Black can proceed differently by playing his queen's bishop to a6, the '''Guatemala Defence''',<ref>[[John L. Watson|John Watson]] and [[Eric Schiller]], ''The Big Book of Busts'', Hypermodern Press, 1995, p. 111. {{ISBN|1-886040-13-3}}.</ref> so-named because the Guatemala Chess Club used the line in a 1949 [[correspondence chess|correspondence]] game.<ref name="SoltisChessLifep.12">[[Andrew Soltis]], "GM Follies", ''[[Chess Life]]'', August 1997, p. 12.</ref> [[Andrew Soltis]] writes that it has "no other discernible benefit than to get out of '[[Chess theory#Opening theory|book]]' as quickly as possible".<ref name="SoltisChessLifep.12"/> [[Joel Benjamin]] and [[Eric Schiller]] see some logic in Black's concept to exchange the light-squared bishop as soon as possible, as it often proves troublesome for Black in many openings.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benjamin |first1=Joel |authorlink1=Joel Benjamin |last2=Schiller |first2=Eric |authorlink2=Eric Schiller |title=Unorthodox Openings |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan Publishing Company]] |year=1987 |contribution=Guatemala Defence |pages=117–18 |isbn=0-02-016590-0}}</ref> White gets the advantage with 2.d4 Ba6 3.Bxa6 Nxa6 4.Nf3 Qc8!? 5.0-0 Qb7 6.Re1 e6 7.c4.<ref>Watson and Schiller 1995, pp. 111–12.</ref>
After 1.e4 b6 2.d4, instead of 2...Bb7, the move 2...Ba6 is known as the '''Guatemala Defence'''.<ref>[[John L. Watson|John Watson]] and [[Eric Schiller]], ''The Big Book of Busts'', Hypermodern Press, 1995, p. 111. {{ISBN|1-886040-13-3}}.</ref> This opening was invented by a Guatemalan named Roberto Asturias, and further investigated by his compatriots including {{ill|David Vela (writer)|lt=David Vela|es|David Vela}} and {{ill|Hans Cohn|de|Hans Cohn (Schachspieler)}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cohn |first=Hans |title=Ajedrez en Guatemala |language=es |year=1947 |pages=8, 137–145 |isbn=0-02-016590-0}}</ref> [[Joel Benjamin]] and [[Eric Schiller]] see some logic in Black's concept to exchange White's light-squared bishop as soon as possible, as it often proves troublesome for Black in many openings.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benjamin |first1=Joel |author-link1=Joel Benjamin |last2=Schiller |first2=Eric |author-link2=Eric Schiller |title=Unorthodox Openings |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan Publishing Company]] |year=1987 |contribution=Guatemala Defence |pages=117–18 |isbn=0-02-016590-0}}</ref> [[Andrew Soltis]] writes that it has "no other discernible benefit than to get out of '[[Chess theory#Opening theory|book]]' as quickly as possible".<ref name="SoltisChessLifep.12">[[Andrew Soltis]], "GM Follies", ''[[Chess Life]]'', August 1997, p. 12.</ref>


⚫
==Illustrative game==
The Guatemalan bishop deployment can also occur on Black's third move, from various [[Transposition (chess)|transpositions]]. For example after 1.e4 b6 2.d4 e6, 1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6, or 1.d4 b6 2.e4 e6, Black can follow up in all cases with 3...Ba6.
{{Chess diagram small
| tright
⚫
| Speelman vs. Basman, 1984
| | | |qd| | |kd|
|rd| |pd|pd|bd|rd| |pd
|pd|pd|nd| | | |pd|bl
| | | |ql| |pd| |nl
|pl| | | | | | |
| | | | |rl| | |
| |pl|pl| | |pl|pl|pl
| | | | |rl| |kl|
| Final position after 20.Rge3
}}

⚫
[[Jonathan Speelman|Speelman]] vs. [[Michael Basman|Basman]], [[British Chess Championship|British Championship]] 1984:<br />
⚫
'''1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 b6 3. d4 Bb7''' [[Transposition (chess)|transposing]] to a position more commonly reached by 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6. '''4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Nge2 c5 6. d5! a6''' 6...exd5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Bxd5 9.Nf4 Bc6 (9...Be6{{chesspunc|?}} 10.Be4 wins; 9...Qe7+!?)<ref name="Inf38p.74"/> 10.Bc4! "gives White strong pressure".<ref>Watson & Schiller 1995, p. 111.</ref> '''7. a4 exd5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Bxd5 10. Nf4 Be6 11. Be4 Ra7 12. 0-0 Be7''' [[John L. Watson|Watson]] and [[Eric Schiller|Schiller]] also give 12...g6 13.a5! as favoring White after 13...bxa5 14.Bd2 or 13...b5 14.Be3 d6 15.b4 Be7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qg4 Qc8 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Bh6, intending Rad1, Rfe1, and h4–h5 "with great pressure for just a pawn".<ref>Watson & Schiller 1995, p. 114.</ref> '''13. Ra3 0-0 14. Rg3 f5 15. Bd5 Rf6?''' Better is 15...Bxd5!? 16.Qxd5+ Rf7 17.Nh5 with a strong attack.<ref name="Inf38p.74">Speelman's annotations in ''Chess Informant'', Volume 38, Šahovski Informator, 1985, p. 74.</ref> '''16. Re1 Bxd5 17. Qxd5+ Rf7 18. Nh5 g6 19. Bh6 Nc6 20. Rge3''' (see diagram) '''{{chessAN|1–0}}'''<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1130051 Speelman–Basman, British Championship 1984]. ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.</ref> White threatens both 21.Rxe7! Nxe7 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qxf7 and 21.Nf6+! Bxf6 (21...Kh8 22.Qxf7) 22.Re8+. On 20...gxh5, 21.Rg3+ wins; 20...Bf8 21.Re8 gxh5 23.Bxf8!; 20...Ra8 21.Rxe7! Nxe7 and now either 22.Rxe7 Qxe7 23.Qxa8+ or 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qxf7 wins.<ref name="Inf38p.74"/>

==Bibliography==
* Bauer, Christian. ''Play 1...b6'' (Everyman Chess, 2005).
* Coles, Nevil. ''Owen's Defence'', chapter 19 (pp112-120) in the 1977 & 1978 impressions of ''Nimzowitsch/Larsen Attack'' by Keene, R. (Batsford, 1977). Absent from subsequent reprints.
* Gawehns, Klaus. ''Theorie und Praxis: Owen-Verteidigung'' (Part I in ''Kaissiber'' 30, pp20-42, Part II in ''Kaissiber'' 32, pp45-61, both 2008, ISBNs 4194305406103/80030 & 4194305406103/80032).
* Lakdawala, Cyrus. ''1...b6: Move by Move'' (Everyman Chess, 2014).
* Odessky, Ilya. '''Winning quickly with 1.b3 and 1...b6'' (New In Chess, 2020).
* Trent, Lawrence. ''1...b6 Against Everything'' (Chessable.com, 2021).


==See also==
==See also==
Line 127: Line 166:
==External links==
==External links==
{{wikibooks|Chess Opening Theory|1. e4/1...b6|Owen's Defence}}
{{wikibooks|Chess Opening Theory|1. e4/1...b6|Owen's Defence}}
* Marcin Maciaga, [http://d-artagnan.x10.mx/szachy/c4b6eng.pdf Flexible System of Defensive Play for Black – 1...b6]
* Marcin Maciaga, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402193901/http://d-artagnan.x10.mx/szachy/c4b6eng.pdf Flexible System of Defensive Play for Black – 1...b6]


{{Chess|state=collapsed}}
{{Chess|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Chess openings]]
[[Category:Chess openings]]

Latest revision as of 01:06, 22 November 2023

Owen's Defence
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.e4 b6
ECOB00
Origin1619
Named afterRev. John Owen
ParentKing's Pawn Opening
Synonym(s)Queen's Fianchetto Defence

Owen's Defence (also known as the Queen's Fianchetto Defence[1]) is an uncommon chess opening defined by the moves:

1. e4 b6

By playing 1...b6, Black prepares to fianchetto the queen's bishop where it will participate in the battle for the centre. The downside of this plan is that White can occupy the centre with pawns and gain a spatial advantage. Moreover, 1...b6 does not prepare kingside castling as 1...g6 does, and it is harder for Black to augment their pressure against the centre with ...f5, which weakens the kingside, than it is to play the corresponding move ...c5 after 1...g6.[2] Owen's Defence accordingly has a dubious reputation.[3][4][5]

Owen's Defence is classified as code B00 by the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

History

[edit]

The 17th-century writings of Gioachino Greco contain three games featuring 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7.[6]

The first master strength player to employ 1.e4 b6 on a regular basis was the 19th-century vicar and strong amateur chess player John Owen,[1] after whom the opening is named. Owen seems to have used 1.e4 b6 as his main defence for the majority of his career, including in two games against Paul Morphy in 1858 (scoring one win[7] and one loss.[8])

In 1889, Owen's Defence was played seven times by Isidor Gunsberg at the US Chess Congress (scoring +4,=2,-1), but the opening was otherwise a very rare visitor in master level chess until the 1970s when it was adopted by freethinkers such as Bent Larsen and Michael Basman. In more recent times Owen's Defence has been played with some regularity by grandmasters Pavel Blatny, Artashes Minasian, Nona Gaprindashvili, Tony Miles, Edvīns Ķeņģis, and Normunds Miezis, and by International Masters Bauer, Bricard and Filipovic.[9] The opening remains rare but has enjoyed a certain amount of popularity in top-level online blitz tournaments, including in games by Alireza Firouzja, Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Teimour Radjabov.

Theory

[edit]

The theory of Owen's Defence is less developed than that of other openings. This makes it attractive to some players, since their opponents will often be ill-prepared for it and hence forced to think for themselves.[2] GM Christian Bauer observes:[10]

To be honest, I don't think Black can equalise as quickly with 1...b6 as he sometimes does in standard openings, and he may suffer against a well-prepared opponent. Then again, the well-prepared opponent is rare for such marginal variations as 1...b6, and in any case, with reasonable play I'm sure White can't get more than a slight advantage from the opening – a risk everyone is running as Black, aren't they?

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black bishop
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e6 black pawn
c5 black pawn
d4 white pawn
e4 white pawn
c3 white pawn
d3 white bishop
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 5.c3

After 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 the mainline has historically been 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3 (4.c4 would transpose to the English Defence) c5 5.c3 (see diagram), after which MCO-15[11] gives clear advantage to White after either:

5…Nf6 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.a3! d5 8.e5 Nfd7 9.b4 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1

or 5...cxd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Qe2 d5 9.e5 Ne4 10.0-0!? Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxc3 12.Qe3 Nc6 13.Bb2 Ne4 14.Ba3 Adams–Vanderwaeren, Moscow Olympiad 1994).

GM John Shaw has suggested that White may fare even better by opting for 5.Nc3[12] after which Black has little option but to play ...cxd4 (either immediately or in the next few moves) transposing into an unorthodox type of Open Sicilian where Black has played an early ...b6/...Bb7.

According to IM Lawrence Trent, 4…c5 has ‘generally been almost refuted by cloud engines’.[13] He therefore suggests that Black may be better off exploring the sideline 4…d5. Possibilities offered by Trent include 5.e5 Ba6, which gives an Advance French type structure where Black can swiftly exchange off his bad bishop, and 5.exd Qxd 6.Nc3 Qd8 where the structure might be taken to resemble either an unusual form of Qd8 Scandinavian or a rare type of Exchange French where Black had re-captured with the Queen to keep the pawn structure asymmetrical (i.e. 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e4xd5 Qxd5!?).

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black bishop
d7 black knight
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e6 black pawn
c5 black pawn
d5 black pawn
e5 white pawn
d4 white pawn
d3 white bishop
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
e2 white queen
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
f1 white rook
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
French-type handling of the opening, position after 7...c5

German opening theoretician FM Klaus Gewehns[14] considered much of the complex after 3.Bd3 e6 to be dangerous for Black and instead concentrated on 3...Nf6 (as often played by Owen's Defence specialist Pavel Blatny), the most frequently played continuation here is 4.Qe2 e6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.0-0 c5 (see diagram), another French-type handling of the opening.

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
e8 black king
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black bishop
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e6 black pawn
f6 black queen
h6 black pawn
d4 white pawn
e4 white pawn
c3 white pawn
d3 white bishop
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
d1 white queen
e1 white king
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 8...Qxf6

The main 3rd move alternative for White has been to defend the e4 pawn with 3.Nc3, after which a typical continuation would be 3...e6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qxf6 (see diagram), MCO-15 now gives advantage to White following 9.0-0 d6 10.Nd2 e5 11.f4 Qe7 12.Qg4, as in David–Bauer, France 2005.

Instead of playing 3...e6, Black may also transpose into the Hippopotamus Defence by playing 3...g6 and 4...Bg7, attaining a double fianchetto formation. This approach was used by GM Boris Spassky in games 12 and 16 of his 1966 World Championship match against the then World Champion Tigran Petrosian; Spassky drew both games. It had been developed and played by the Slovakian International Master Maximilian Ujtelky a few years before this. If White plays 3.Bd3 g6 4.f4 Andrew Martin considers 4...f5! to be strong,[15] citing the game Serpik–Blatny, U.S. Open 2003.[16]

Greco vs. NN, 1619
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
g6 white pawn
h5 white queen
d4 white pawn
d3 white bishop
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 black bishop
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
e1 white king
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 6.fxg6

After 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3, the direct 3...f5? is "simply suicidal" according to Bauer.[17] In the 17th century Greco had already given the line 4. exf5! Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6 6. fxg6 (see diagram) Nf6?? 7. gxh7+ Nxh5 8. Bg6#.[18] A better move for Black is 6...Bg7, but White is winning after 7.Qf5! Nf6 8.Bh6!!,[19][20] or the "clearer"[21] 7.gxh7+ Kf8 8.Nf3! Nf6 (8...Bxf3? 9.Qxf3+ Nf6 10.Qxa8; 8...Bxh1 9.Ne5 Bxe5 10.dxe5 Bd5 11.hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 12.Qg6+ Kf8 13.Bh6+) 9.Qg6 Bxf3 (9...Bxh1 10.Bh6 Rxh7 11.Ng5 Bxh6 12.Nxh7+ Nxh7 13.Qxh6+) 10.Rg1 Rxh7 11.Qg3! Be4 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Qf3+ Kg8 14.Qxe4 with an extra pawn and safer king for White.[22][23][24]

Guatemala Defence

[edit]
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
a6 black bishop
b6 black pawn
d4 white pawn
e4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Guatemala Defence: 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Ba6. Black offers a trade of light-squared bishops.

After 1.e4 b6 2.d4, instead of 2...Bb7, the move 2...Ba6 is known as the Guatemala Defence.[25] This opening was invented by a Guatemalan named Roberto Asturias, and further investigated by his compatriots including David Vela [es] and Hans Cohn [de].[26] Joel Benjamin and Eric Schiller see some logic in Black's concept to exchange White's light-squared bishop as soon as possible, as it often proves troublesome for Black in many openings.[27] Andrew Soltis writes that it has "no other discernible benefit than to get out of 'book' as quickly as possible".[28]

Illustrative game

[edit]
Speelman vs. Basman, 1984
abcdefgh
8
d8 black queen
g8 black king
a7 black rook
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black bishop
f7 black rook
h7 black pawn
a6 black pawn
b6 black pawn
c6 black knight
g6 black pawn
h6 white bishop
d5 white queen
f5 black pawn
h5 white knight
a4 white pawn
e3 white rook
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
e1 white rook
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Final position after 20.Rge3

Speelman vs. Basman, British Championship 1984:
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 b6 3. d4 Bb7 transposing to a position more commonly reached by 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6. 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Nge2 c5 6. d5! a6 6...exd5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Bxd5 9.Nf4 Bc6 (9...Be6? 10.Be4 wins; 9...Qe7+!?)[29] 10.Bc4! "gives White strong pressure".[30] 7. a4 exd5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Bxd5 10. Nf4 Be6 11. Be4 Ra7 12. 0-0 Be7 Watson and Schiller also give 12...g6 13.a5! as favoring White after 13...bxa5 14.Bd2 or 13...b5 14.Be3 d6 15.b4 Be7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qg4 Qc8 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Bh6, intending Rad1, Rfe1, and h4–h5 "with great pressure for just a pawn".[31] 13. Ra3 0-0 14. Rg3 f5 15. Bd5 Rf6? Better is 15...Bxd5!? 16.Qxd5+ Rf7 17.Nh5 with a strong attack.[29] 16. Re1 Bxd5 17. Qxd5+ Rf7 18. Nh5 g6 19. Bh6 Nc6 20. Rge3 (see diagram) 1–0[32] White threatens both 21.Rxe7! Nxe7 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qxf7 and 21.Nf6+! Bxf6 (21...Kh8 22.Qxf7) 22.Re8+. On 20...gxh5, 21.Rg3+ wins; 20...Bf8 21.Re8 gxh5 23.Bxf8!; 20...Ra8 21.Rxe7! Nxe7 and now either 22.Rxe7 Qxe7 23.Qxa8+ or 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qxf7 wins.[29]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Bauer, Christian. Play 1...b6 (Everyman Chess, 2005).
  • Coles, Nevil. Owen's Defence, chapter 19 (pp112-120) in the 1977 & 1978 impressions of Nimzowitsch/Larsen Attack by Keene, R. (Batsford, 1977). Absent from subsequent reprints.
  • Gawehns, Klaus. Theorie und Praxis: Owen-Verteidigung (Part I in Kaissiber 30, pp20-42, Part II in Kaissiber 32, pp45-61, both 2008, ISBNs 4194305406103/80030 & 4194305406103/80032).
  • Lakdawala, Cyrus. 1...b6: Move by Move (Everyman Chess, 2014).
  • Odessky, Ilya. 'Winning quickly with 1.b3 and 1...b6 (New In Chess, 2020).
  • Trent, Lawrence. 1...b6 Against Everything (Chessable.com, 2021).

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b David Hooper and Kenneth Whyld, The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed. 1992), p. 286. ISBN 0-19-866164-9.
  2. ^ a b Christian Bauer, Play 1...b6, Everyman Chess, 2005, p. 5. ISBN 1-85744-410-8.
  3. ^ Owen's Defence "enjoyed a brief revival at the hands of American IM Regan and Yugoslav GM Sahović. Unfortunately, the attention it received unearthed more accurate lines for White and it is currently considered insufficient." Garry Kasparov and Raymond Keene, Batsford Chess Openings 2, Collier Books, 1989, p. 228. ISBN 0-02-033991-7.
  4. ^ Owen's Defence is "viewed by theory as unreliable". Nick de Firmian, Modern Chess Openings, 15th edition, Random House Puzzles & Games, 2008, p. 385. ISBN 978-0-8129-3682-7.
  5. ^ "Owen's Defence ... is regarded by current theory as suspicious". Bauer 2005, p. 7.
  6. ^ Louis Hoffmann, The Chess Games of Greco, George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1900, pp. 82–86.
  7. ^ Paul Morphy vs John Owen, London m2 1858 ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  8. ^ Paul Morphy vs John Owen, London m2 1858 ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-12.
  9. ^ Bauer 2005, p. 6.
  10. ^ Bauer 2005, p. 7.
  11. ^ de Firmian 2008, p. 385.
  12. ^ John Shaw, Playing 1.e4: Caro-Kann, 1...e5 & Minor Lines, Quality Chess, 2020, chapter 20
  13. ^ Trent, Lawrence. 1...b6 Against Everything (Chessable.com, 2021)
  14. ^ Gawehns, Klaus. Theorie und Praxis: Owen-Verteidigung, Kaissiber 30 & 32, 2008
  15. ^ Andrew Martin, The Hippopotamus Rises: The Re-Emergence of a Chess Opening, Batsford, 2005, p. 112. ISBN 978-0-7134-8989-7.
  16. ^ Serpik–Blatny, U.S. Open 2003. ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.
  17. ^ Christian Bauer, Play 1...b6, Everyman Chess 2005, p.25
  18. ^ Professor Hoffmann, The Chess Games of Greco, George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1900, p. 84.
  19. ^ Christian Bauer, Play 1...b6, Everyman Chess 2005, p.25
  20. ^ John Nunn, Graham Burgess, John Emms, and Joe Gallagher, Nunn's Chess Openings, Everyman Chess, 1999, p. 123. ISBN 1-85744-221-0.
  21. ^ John Watson, Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4, Gambit Publications, 2010, p. 96. ISBN 978-1-906454-19-7.
  22. ^ Soltis 1977, p. 22.
  23. ^ Kapitaniak 1982, p. 45.
  24. ^ Boris Avrukh, 1.d4 Volume Two, Quality Chess, 2010, p. 551. ISBN 978-1-906552-33-6.
  25. ^ John Watson and Eric Schiller, The Big Book of Busts, Hypermodern Press, 1995, p. 111. ISBN 1-886040-13-3.
  26. ^ Cohn, Hans (1947). Ajedrez en Guatemala (in Spanish). pp. 8, 137–145. ISBN 0-02-016590-0.
  27. ^ Benjamin, Joel; Schiller, Eric (1987). "Guatemala Defence". Unorthodox Openings. Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 117–18. ISBN 0-02-016590-0.
  28. ^ Andrew Soltis, "GM Follies", Chess Life, August 1997, p. 12.
  29. ^ a b c Speelman's annotations in Chess Informant, Volume 38, Šahovski Informator, 1985, p. 74.
  30. ^ Watson & Schiller 1995, p. 111.
  31. ^ Watson & Schiller 1995, p. 114.
  32. ^ Speelman–Basman, British Championship 1984. ChessGames.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.
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