ECO B00 · Owen Defense

Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5 4. exf5 Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6

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

6. fxg6+2.42

White is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit (B00), reached after 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5 4. exf5 Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. fxg6 for White. White is winning (+2.42).

Top engine moves

  1. +2.426. fxg6 Bg7 7. gxh7+ Kf8 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Qg6 Bxf3 10. Rg1 Rxh7
  2. −0.716. Qg5 Bxh1 7. fxg6 e6 8. Qh5 Bg7 9. gxh7+ Kf8 10. Ne2 Qf6
  3. −1.136. Qh4 Bxh1 7. fxg6 h6 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Nf4 Nf6 10. Be3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit?
After 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5 4. exf5 Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. fxg6 for White, continuing Bg7 7. gxh7+ Kf8 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Qg6 Bxf3 10. Rg1 Rxh7. White is winning (+2.42). The next best moves are 6. Qg5 (−0.71) and 6. Qh4 (−1.13).
Is the Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +2.42: white is winning. 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: Matovinsky Gambit?
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+).