Owen's Defense
Answer 1.e4 with a quiet fianchetto: ...b6 and ...Bb7 target e4 from afar. An offbeat, flexible system that avoids mainstream theory.
Let's begin.
Press Learn to start, then play the moves yourself.
Play pawn to b6.
Variations in this course
Every line runs to a middlegame position with coach commentary at each fork. Playing Black, you'll meet:
- 1
...f5 Hypermodern
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3
Take it with you
Export this repertoire as a standard PGN — with the coach's notes as comments — to study it in Lichess, ChessBase, or any board you like. Sidelines are saved as PGN variations.
Related courses
More from the Defenses to 1.e4.
French Defense
A rock-solid, strategic defense to 1.e4. Build a resilient pawn chain, strike at the center with ...c5, and outplay opponents in rich middlegames.
Caro-Kann Defense
A super-solid answer to 1.e4 with none of the French's bad-bishop problems. Reach a healthy structure and a comfortable, resilient middlegame.
Modern Defense
Hand White the center, then dismantle it. The Modern fianchettoes the king's bishop and counterattacks with flexible, hypermodern plans.
Pirc Defense
A hypermodern counterattacking defense to 1.e4. Black concedes the center, develops flexibly, and strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5.