Play the Owen Defense against 1.c4
Introduction by the Author
Ever since I understood that nobody forced me to play only king's fianchetto systems against 1.d4 and 1.c4, the feeling developed inside me that my reflex answer to 1.c4 should be 1...b6. True, when reaching the board, this idea somehow vanished, and I have played only a few games with it.
The Owen Defence is one of the most interesting and original among hyper-modern openings. It combines ideas from several different openings, such as the Queen's Indian, the Bogo-Indian, the Nimzo-Indian and the Dutch. Black completely refrains from occupying the centre with his pawns and controls it with his pieces from afar, frequently involving the f-pawn in the process.
This database aims to offer a complete Owen repertoire against 1.c4 that avoids transpositions to the Queen's Indian or other main openings.
The database consists of 24 theoretical chapters and 16 interactive test positions.
Chapter 1 - 1.c4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 - Rare Lines
In this chapter, I deal with some rare options that White can choose on move 3. I deal with seven moves - 3.f3, 3.d5, 3.Nd2, 3.Qc2, 3.Bf4, 3.Nc3, and 3.Bg5. These moves are not challenging. Black has more than one way to get a decent position.
Chapters 2-6 - 1.c4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.a3
The starting position of the next five chapters arises after 1.c4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.a3
This is one of the most typical reactions to the Owen setup. The idea is similar to the Queen's Indian Petrosian System (which involves the insertion of Nf3 and ...Nf6 in our current line). White prevents one of Black's typical ideas, ...Bb4, thus preparing to restrict the bishop on b7 with d4-d5 and/or e2-e4.
At this point, I suggest 4...f5 with the idea to keep the game outside the main theoretical paths and stay within hyper-modern territory.
At this point, White's most principled approach is 5.d5. In Chapters 2 and 3, however, I focus on White's attempts to refrain from this pawn advance. The main alternative is 5.Nf3.
In Chapter 2, I also deal with some minor alternatives such as 5.Nh3 and 5.e3.
This leads to a Dutch/Queen's Indian hybrid, where Black has good control over e4, without the need to play ...Ne4 too soon. White will try to prove that ... f7-f5 has delayed Black's development a bit and also weakened the square e6.
The main crossroads arises after 5...Nf6
White has many moves in this position. In Chapter 2, I examine 6.Bf4 as well as some rare moves. My conclusion is that with a precise play, Black achieves a decent counterplay.
Chapter 3, features the more critical 6.g3
This is likely to transpose to a fianchetto Queen's Indian, where a2-a3 is not very constructive. A key idea in this position is 6...Ne4. By occupying the important e4-square, Black is also vacating the f6-square for his bishops. Therefore, before going for active actions in the centre, Black usually plays ...Be7-f6. In many positions, Black puts his bishop on e4, after an exchange on c3. My analysis proves that Black's position is extremely sound.
In Chapter 4, I start dealing with 5.d5
This is the most principled way of justifying a2-a3. Since he does not have ...Bb4, Black will face problems undermining d5. The best idea is to use the c5-square for his queen's knight's trajectory.
In this position, after 5...Nf6, White has a choice. Chapter 4 deals with 6.Nf3 which is not very critical since Black can start fighting for the e4-square by means of the manoeuvre ...Na6-c5.
In Chapters 5 and 6, I focus on 6.g3
This is the approved and most consistent way to strengthen control of the centre after d4-d5.
Once again, Black should settle for 6...Na6.
In this setup, the bishop usually goes to d6 and often later to e5, in order to undermine White's defence of d5. But once again I believe that developing and activating the knight are higher priorities for Black at this point.
The first important crossroads arises after 7.Bg2 Nc5
In this position, I examine three continuations - 8.Qc2, 8.Nf3, and 8.Nh3. Moves 8.Qc2 and 8.Nf3 are dealt with in Chapter 5. Black is doing OK in the arising positions. Chapter 6 features the most critical 8.Nh3 which offers White the best chances to maintain control of the centre, as it leaves the bishop's diagonal open. But the knight's perspectives are less clear on h3, and it might need two more moves (to f4 and d3) in order to really get into play. Having less space, Black should play precisely in order to avoid long-term problems. In my analysis, I managed to prove decent counterplay in all the variations.
Chapters 7-13 - 1.c4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.e4
This is a very active approach. White picks up the gauntlet and gets all the space he can. Now, Black should follow with 4...Bb4 which is an important element of Black's play. It is important to use all the minor pieces when fighting against White's centre. In many lines, he can build up his counterplay against the queenside weaknesses resulting from the exchange on c3.
In Chapter 7, I examine all the rare options White has on move 5.
Chapter 8 covers the dangerous 5.Qc2
White defends e4 without weakening g2 or the e1-h4 diagonal. But developing the queen so early induces some lack of balance in his position. At this point, my suggestion is 5...Bxc3 6.bxc3 Qh4 when it turns out that this simple attack is not easy to meet, as the pawn on f2 is pinned. In Chapter 8, I provide an in-depth analysis of this position. You will find some fresh new ideas which prove the soundness of Black's approach.
In Chapters 9 and 10, I analyze 5.Bd3.
This natural developing move has the drawback of weakening g2, thus allowing Black to continue undermining the white centre effortlessly. Of course, Black's most principled reaction is 5...f5.
In Chapter 9, I examine the various alternatives to 6.Qe2. My conclusion is that Black does not face problems in these lines.
The main continuation 6.Qe2 is the subject of Chapter 10.
In this line, examine the move Qe2 in two versions - with and without the prior Qh5+. The critical position arises after 6...Nf6 7.f3 Nc6 8.Be3
With the pawn being still on g7, Black can play 8...f4 9.Bf2 e5, thus obtaining a firm control of the dark squares. Had the black pawn been on g6 (the move 6.Qh5+ would have provoked ...g7-g6), the approach connected to ...f5-f4 followed by ...e6-e5 wouldn't work very well. Instead, I suggest entering the structure which arises after ...fxe4 followed by ...e6-e5.
Chapters 11, 12, and 13 are dedicated to 5.f3.
This looks like the most solid move, but it costs White a developing tempo and weakens the e1-h4 diagonal.
Now, Black should opt for the energetic 5...f5! which is the most principled reaction, sacrificing a pawn in order to dismantle White's centre. The point is that 6.exf5 is answered with 6...Nh6.
Black keeps developing, threatening the simple ...Nxf5. At this point, White faces a choice. In Chapter 11, I examine two continuations which are not very critical - 7.a3 and 7.Bxh6. With a precise play, Black is doing fine in these lines.
Chapters 12 and 13 feature 7.fxe6.
This is the most critical continuation. White grabs a second pawn and tries to make sure that Black will have a weakness on e6. But this delays his development even more. Being faithful to his developing policy, Black should play 7...Nf5 when the arising positions are extremely complicated. White has a variety of options at his disposal. In this chapter, I deal with all the alternatives to 8.Bf4. My throughout analysis confirms that Black has more than enough counterplay in all the lines.
The move 8.Bf4 is examined in Chapter 13.
The previous lines have clearly shown that White is not in time to develop his kingside properly. Therefore, it makes sense to prepare long castling, which is likely to be less time-consuming. Nevertheless, with a precise play, Black manages to create enough counterplay.
Chapters 14-18 - 4.Nf3
With this move order, White invites Black to transpose to the Queen's Indian or the Nimzo-Indian. This would not be a problem, of course, but Black can opt for a hybrid, combining the Dutch with both of these openings! This way, he can stay within Owen territory. Therefore, my suggestion would be 4...f5. Black is fighting for the control of the light-squares. White has a number of options in this position. Since the position is not forced, however, understanding the typical ideas and plans is more important than the knowledge of concrete lines.
In Chapter 14, I examine four continuations - 5.Bf4, 5.d5, 5.a3, and 5.Bg5. Against each one of these lines, Black can easily solve his opening problems. Additionally, in the arising positions, Black has good chances to fight for a win.
Chapters 15 and 16 are dedicated to 5.e3 which fits into the spirit of the classical (4.e3) Nimzo-Indian. My main line goes 5...Nf6 6.Bd3 Bb4
Fighting for the e4-square is the main strategical theme in such positions. Black is planning to take on c3, thus spoiling White's pawn structure. White should decide whether to allow it or not. In Chapter 15, I examine the cautious but passive 7.Bd2. This move does not create problems for Black.
Chapter 16 features 7.0-0 which is a dynamic approach. White does not waste time with Bd2, hoping that his massive centre will offer him chances to take over the initiative. The critical position arises after 7...Bxc3 8.bxc3 0-0
As compensation for the bishop pair, Black has good central control and better pawn structure. One of the typical ideas allowing to put pressure on the queenside is ...c7-c5 followed by ...Nc6, ...Rc8, and probably ...Na5. At this point, I examine several continuations. My conclusion is that White's dynamic play is not enough for an advantage.
In Chapters 17 and 18, I focus on 5.g3.
As usual, the king's fianchetto is a complex way of neutralising the b7-bishop's pressure along the long diagonal. After 5...Nf6 6.Bg2 Bb4, White faces his usual dilemma - accept doubled pawns or not. In Chapter 17, I deal with 7.Qb3, 7.Qc2 and 7.0-0. Queen moves keep the structure intact but waste too much time. On the other hand, castling allows Black to spoil White's queenside structure. Furthermore, with a bishop on g2, the c4-pawn is weaker than usual. In my opinion, White's dynamic play cannot compensate for structural deficits.
Chapter 18, deals with 7.Bd2.
Strategically speaking, this is White's most consistent continuation. After the eventual exchange on c3, White's dark-squared bishop will be actively placed. Due to the hanging position of the b7-bishop, White can answer 7...d6 with 8.d5!. Therefore, Black should be careful. I suggest 7...Qe7, overprotecting the e6-square and planning to follow with ...Bxc3 and ...d7-d6. I have dealt with this structure in my first Bogo-Indian database. Once again, position understanding is getting more important than concrete knowledge.
Chapter 19 - 3.Nf3 e6 4.g3
White gives up early territorial ambitions and tries to transpose to the fianchetto Queen's Indian. But Black has a reliable way to keep the game original. My main line goes 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxf3 6.exf3 Bxd2 7.Qxd2 d5 8.Nc3 Ne7.
Black is very stable and does not face any strategic danger.
Chapters 20-21 - 3.e4
Diagram
With this move order, White intends to keep the game within English territory. Black has more than one good option here but I decided to opt for 3...e5. Black is fighting for the dark squares in the centre. Now, the careless 4.g3 could be met with 4...f5. White has two options here - 4.Nge2 and 4.Nf3.
Chapter 20 deals with 4.Nge2. My line goes 4...Nf6 5.d3 Bc5
This is the main point behind 3...e5. Now, White should reckon with the idea ...Ng4. Another idea that Black has at his disposal is ...c7-c6 followed by ...d7-d5. My analysis shows that Black is in very good shape in the arising positions.
The move 4.Nf3 is addressed in Chapter 21.
Diagram
Since the slow development examined in the previous line exposes White to underdevelopment, this move looks better. But giving up the possibility of a quick f2-f4 implies some positional self-limitations.
My main line here is 4...Nc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Bb4
Black finally plays this move, typical for many Owen lines. White will most likely get doubled pawns on the c-file. My in-depth analysis shows that Black is doing fine in all the lines.
Chapter 22 - 1.c4 b6 2.Nf3
White tries to take the game along the "quiet English" paths. Apart from transposing to known systems like the English Hedgehog, Black can keep the game on original paths. After 2...Bb7 3.g3 (I also examine 3.Nc3 and 3.e3), I suggest 3...Bxf3 which is the only reasonable way to stay within Owen territory. In my annotations to this chapter, I prove that such an approach is entirely sound.
Chapters 23-24 - Owen Repertoire against 1.d4
As a bonus, in the last two chapters, I examine a brief Owen Repertoire against 1.d4. The main position of these chapters arises after 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3
This is the crucial move, somewhat reducing Black's chances for counterplay. But it seems that he can work a way out here, too. My suggestion is 4...Bb4+
In Chapter 23, I cover all the alternatives to the natural 5.Bd2. Black is doing fine in these lines.
The critical 5.Bd2 is dealt with in Chapter 24. Black's best way of obtaining counterplay is 5...Bxd2 6.Qxd2 f5 7.Nc3 Nf6.
At this point, White has two options - 8.Qe2 and 8.f3. The latter approach is critical. Even in this case, however, Black manages to obtain a playable position with mutual chances.
Test Section
At the end of the database, you will find 16 interactive test positions which allow you to check your understanding of the theory.
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