Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Owen’s Defense!

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Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Owen’s Defense!

There are many popular chess openings for black against e4 such as the French Defense, Pirc Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, Sicilian Defense, Nimzowitsch Defense, Alekhine Defense. However, usually white is prepared for all of these chess openings for black, and they take a ton of time to learn the opening theory. Is there a move we can play as black that takes white by surprise but still holds that high level of chess strategy? The answer is yes, and in today’s video I’ll be showing you the Owen’s Defense, a dangerous and fun chess opening for black against e4. By playing b6 on the first move, we want to fianchetto our bishop on b7 and put immediate pressure on the e4 pawn. We will then develop our pieces, aggressively fight for counterplay, and sometimes look to checkmate the opponent’s king. The first segment of this Owen’s Defense chess video will be covering the chess strategy, chess principles, chess ideas, chess moves, chess tips, chess tricks, chess traps, and secret checkmate strategy. When playing chess openings, it’s important to not only know the chess opening theory, but chess opening grandmaster games. This is vital because we want to see the Owen’s Defense in action, and we will do just that by analyzing a game played by Magnus Carlsen when he played 1. … b6 in 2017 and used it to defeat an elite chess grandmaster. Chess opening principles, chess opening ideas, chess opening strategy, and chess opening theory are important for improving one’s chess and getting good middlegame positions. This is also a good chess opening for beginners, as it highlights good chess strategy. Whether you are a chess beginner or chess grandmaster, we hope you enjoy learning about this strong chess opening against e4!

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20 Comments

  1. You gotta be on your toes for this one

  2. Does starting with Owens defense and then shifting to the hippo sound like a good way to throw someone off?

  3. Wow you are so Awesome I love the Owen defense, it also reminds me of the Queen's Indian.

  4. simply simply simply simply simply

  5. Why doesn't anyone show what to do when white pawn kicks bishop moving to a3???

  6. In the first line that you show with Bd2 I personally believe that you should take the bishop and then play c5 because you keep the bishop pair and both are very strong and active at that point and many people can collapse

    Something that I have noticed while playing this opening and learning the lines is that a lot of the time you can really damage you opponents structure in a lot of situations and this has won me many endgames because my opponent just loses a lot of their pawns

  7. This looks like an improved French to me, Except it doesn't necessarily have to transpose into the French pawn structure always. Also, the option of not playing an outright c5 is appealing as it preserves the option of castling queen side.

  8. …what a voice ! But isn’t it better ( tricky for this Strategie) to start with e6 (and than b6 ) so, that the opponent/white makes the second move in a other anticipation ??? I play this defense offen relativ successful.

  9. Thank you. I have a class on Owen’s defense but I find this to be a good refresher of the big ideas

  10. Thanks for sharing owens defense opening video .Keep up the good work.

  11. I think GM Tony Miles brought this opening to the fore a few decades ago after losing a game to it in the Philippines. That's why it was sometimes called the English Defence. Looks like it can kinda morph into the Tartakower structure of QGD.
    This was a nice clear example of possibilities. Thanks, Solomon.
    P.S. There is a master from NYC that plays what he calls the Drunken Master. As both White and Black. All the pawns are advanced one square except for the h pawn. The queenside rook is advanced one square, then swung over to the g file. This is without developing any other piece! Blitz only. Like the Crab, not as insane as it looks. Cheers.

  12. Hi Solomon, I really enjoy watching your videos on chess openings. Keep on the good stuff ! My suggestions…What about the Persus Gambit, the Kiddie countergambit and Hippopotamus Defense? I would like to see. Cheers

  13. Greatly appreciate the insights. You definitely deserve more subs!

    So I was looking through a chess.com forum to learn more about Owen’s and they discuss a different line with Ne2 instead of Nf3: 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Ne2 d5 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Nf4. This seems more difficult for black. Any thoughts?

  14. Just subbed best theory breakdown ever

  15. thank you a sir for strengthening my play in the owen's defence

  16. Hey! I love this video. But I have a question.. What are the differences between this and the Larsen's Opening for white? Or is the Owen just a reverse Larsen?

  17. e4 b6, d4 Bb7, Bd3 e6, ç4What is black's best reply?

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