Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...b6

English Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/p1pppppp/1p6/8/3P4/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR
Moves: 1. d4 b6
ECO code: A40
Parent: Queen's Pawn Opening

1... b6 - English Defence

With the move 1.... b6 Black prepares to develop the Queenside Bishop. It's also a flexible option when played with the e6 development as Black has various ideas involving the e6, Nf6, Bb4, Bb7 moves.

White's responses

White likely to respond with one of the following:

• 2. c4 A standard reply, White continues in Queen Gambit formation ready to play e4.
• 2. Nf3 May transpose into a Queen's Indian Defence.
• 2. e4 This move order arrives at a Owen's Defence

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation

1. d4 b6

	2	3	4	5	6	7
English Defence	c4 e6	e4 Bb7	Bd3 f5!?	exf5 Bxg2	Qh5+ g6	fxg6 Bg7	∞
Queen's Indian Defence	Nf3 Bb7	c4 e6	Nc3 Nf6	a3 d5	cxd5 Nxd5	e3 Be7	+/=
Owen Defence	e4 Bb7	Bd3 e6	Nf3 c5	c3 Nf6	Qe2 Be7	O-O Nc6	∞

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References

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.