Owen Defense - 2.Nc3, 2.Bc4 and 2.f4 Lines
White develops with 2.Nc3, often following with d4 and meeting ...d5 with 4.exd5. Reply ...exd5, then ...Nf6 and ...Be7, ready to castle short against 6.Bg5. Keep both bishops while the e-file stays open. Aim for a comfortable, balanced middlegame.
Let's learn the 2.Nc3, 2.Bc4 and 2.f4 Lines! White develops pieces and claims central space while we push d5 to challenge the e4 pawn. After the trade on d5 we keep both bishops and can castle short safely. Let's begin with 1.e4.
Learn this chapter freeMain line
Scroll the moves: the board follows.
Key lines
The free lines of this chapter, each one trainable move by move.
- Main Line
… 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bg5 Be7
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 Nf6
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. Nf3 Nf6
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb3 Nf6
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. a3 Bb7
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 Bb7
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d3 Bb7
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. d3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb3 Nf6 6. Nf3 c5
- 2. Bc4
… 1... b6 2. Bc4 e6 3. d3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb3 Nf6 6. Bg5 a5
- 2. f4
… 1... b6 2. f4 Bb7 3. d3 d5 4. e5 d4 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O Nf5
- 2. f4
… 1... b6 2. f4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4
- 2. f4
… 1... b6 2. f4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. exd5 exd5 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O Nc6
- 2. f4
… 1... b6 2. f4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. e5 d4 6. Ne2 Bxf3 7. gxf3 Qh4+ 8. Ng3 Qxf4 9. d3 Qxe5+ 10. Ne4 Nd7
- 2. f4
… 1... b6 2. f4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. e5 d4 6. Ne2 Bxf3 7. gxf3 Qh4+ 8. Ng3 Qxf4 9. Qe2 Nc6
- 3. Nf3
… 2... e6 3. Nf3 Bb7
- 4. e5
… 3... d5 4. e5 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6
- 4. Nf3
… 3... d5 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. e5 c5
Other chapters
1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3
3rd moves after 2.d4 Bb7 (3.Nc3, 3.Bd3, 3.d5, 3.f3)
White defends e4 with 3.Nc3, eyeing d5, then develops with 4.Nf3, eyeing e5. You reply 3...e6, closing a key diagonal and keeping White's knight off d5, with your bishop on b7 already eyeing e4. From here keep developing and aim to strike the centre with d5, building a solid, flexible setup.
23 lines1. e4 b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Qe2 d5 7. e5 Ne4 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Nc6 10. Bxe4 dxe4 11. Qxe4 Na5 12. Qg4 Qd5
2.Nf3 Lines
Play ...Bb4, ...Nf6 and ...d5, then after 7.e5 Ne4 trade on c3 and e4, leaving White doubled c-pawns. Watch the trap where 8.Bxe4 dxe4 9.Nd2 Qxd4 wins material for you. Aim for opposite-colored bishops with your knight jumping to c4 and pressure on the f-file.
17 lines
Learn 2.Nc3, 2.Bc4 and 2.f4 Lines on the board
The trainer plays the opponent's moves and waits for yours, line by line. Free to start.
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