A lifetime repertoire that you don't need a lifetime to learn. Foxy Vol.195 The Owens Defence 1.e4 b6 2.d4 e6 &
Foxy Vol.196 The English Defence 1.d4 b6 2 c4 e6
1…b6 the final frontier of opening theory in our computer age? The positions that can be reached are fresh, original, and remarkably diverse
Black scores 51% to 65 in most lines.
IM A. Martin
This 1...b6 repertoire is a combination of 2 openings
Foxy Vol.195 The Owens Defence 1.e4 b6 2.d4 e6 &
Foxy Vol.196 The English Defence 1.d4 b6 2 c4 e6
1...b6 is not well known which allows the possibility for your opponent to go wrong. White often gains a broad pawn center with 3.e4
Black uses his minor pieces to control the center and dismantle it with pawn breaks f5 , d5, & c5.
Speedy attacks from the start with an easy plan to remember and follow plays B-b7, B-b4, f5, Qh4, or Ne7.
Black often develops bishops before knights and brings out the queen early
Great for Blitz chess, White has less time to figure out what to do which can result in quick wins for Black.
1...b6 has been played on the highest level which includes GM’s Carlsen, Nakamura, Nepominachtchi, Firouzja, Kamsky Kramnik,
British players that have taken up in the seventies to the presents such as GMs Tony Miles, Ray Keene, Michael Stean, James Paskett,
Daniel King, Julian Hodgson, Michael Basman, Andrew Martin, and then later championed by GMs Jon Speelman, Nigel Short, Simon Williams,
and Michael Adams.
So it makes sense the opening is called the English Defence.
