ECO B00 · Owen Defense

Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Ba6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. Bxa6+1.37

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense (B00), reached after 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Ba6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Bxa6 for White. White is clearly better (+1.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.373. Bxa6 Nxa6 4. Nf3 e6 5. O-O Ne7 6. c4 g6 7. Qa4 Nb8
  2. +1.063. Nc3 Bb7 4. h4 h5 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bg5 f6 7. Bd2 Be7
  3. +0.933. c4 e6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Qc2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Bb7 7. Bd3 Nh5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense?
After 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Ba6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Bxa6 for White, continuing Nxa6 4. Nf3 e6 5. O-O Ne7 6. c4 g6 7. Qa4 Nb8. White is clearly better (+1.37). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+1.06) and 3. c4 (+0.93).
Is the Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.37: white is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Owen Defense: Guatemala Defense?
B00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).