ECO B00 · Owen Defense

Owen Defense: Matovinsky Gambit

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

abcdefgh87654321
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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).