ECO B00 · Owen Defense

Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation

1. e4 f6 2. d4 b6 3. c4 Bb7

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. Nc3+1.20

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation (B00), reached after 1. e4 f6 2. d4 b6 3. c4 Bb7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.20).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.204. Nc3 e5 5. d5 a5 6. a3 Bc5 7. Bd3 d6 8. Qh5+ g6
  2. +1.184. d5 e5 5. Nc3 a5 6. a3 Bc5 7. Bd3 d6 8. Qh5+ g6
  3. +0.994. Bd3 Nc6 5. Ne2 e5 6. d5 Nb4 7. Nbc3 Nxd3+ 8. Qxd3 Bb4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation?
After 1. e4 f6 2. d4 b6 3. c4 Bb7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White, continuing e5 5. d5 a5 6. a3 Bc5 7. Bd3 d6 8. Qh5+ g6. White is clearly better (+1.20). The next best moves are 4. d5 (+1.18) and 4. Bd3 (+0.99).
Is the Owen Defense: Unicorn Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.20: 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: Unicorn Variation?
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+).