ECO B00 · Owen Defense

Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bg5

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

3… Bxe4−0.33

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit (B00), reached after 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bg5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Bxe4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.333… Bxe4 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. d5 Nf6 6. Bxf6 exf6 7. Qd2 Bd6 8. O-O-O
  2. −0.223… h6 4. Bh4 Bxe4 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. d5 Nf6 7. Bxf6 exf6 8. Qd2
  3. +0.293… f6 4. Bf4 Bxe4 5. Qe2 Bb7 6. Nc3 e6 7. O-O-O Na6 8. d5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit?
After 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bg5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Bxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. d5 Nf6 6. Bxf6 exf6 7. Qd2 Bd6 8. O-O-O. Black is slightly better (−0.33). The next best moves are 3… h6 (−0.22) and 3… f6 (+0.29).
Is the Owen Defense: Naselwaus Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.33: black is slightly 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: Naselwaus 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+).