Chess opening · ECO B20
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit
The Wing Gambit is 2.b4. White offers a flank pawn to deflect the c5 pawn, which is the part of Black's setup that controls d4. If Black takes, White hopes to build a full center with d4 and to open lines on the queenside with a3. Taking the pawn leads the table in every band, and Black then often strikes back in the middle.
- Rank by weighted share
- #122 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c5 2. b4
- 2. b4The b4 pawn attacks c5. If Black captures, the c-pawn leaves the fight for d4 and moves to the edge of the board, where White can try to trade it off with a3 or c3.
What White gets for the pawn
After 2...cxb4 White is a pawn down, but Black's c-pawn no longer covers d4. A standard follow-up is a3, offering a second pawn. If Black takes again on a3, recapturing with the bishop puts it on the a3 to f8 diagonal, where it bears down on d6 and on the f8 bishop once the e7 pawn moves.
Another plan is d4 straight away, so that White holds pawns on d4 and e4 while the c-pawn sits on b4.
Black's ...d5 break
A standard answer to a3 is ...d5, hitting e4. After the trade on d5 Black recaptures with the queen, which is safe from Nc3 for a moment because the knight cannot land there without being attacked by the b4 pawn.
The ...d5 and ...e5 setup
2... cxb4 3. a3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nf3 e5 6. axb4 Bxb4
Black stays a pawn up and has a queen and bishop in active spots. White's rook on a1 now looks up the half-open a-file at a7, and Nc3 can come with a hit on the queen.
Top replies by rating
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400–1599 | cxb4 68% | b6 10% | e6 8% |
| 1600–1799 | cxb4 62% | b6 12% | e6 12% |
| 1800–1999 | cxb4 68% | e6 12% | b6 10% |
| 2000 and up | cxb4 78% | d5 6% | b6 6% |
Questions
Does Black have to take on b4?
No. Black can play ...d5 or ...e6 and leave the pawn. Taking has the largest share in every band of the table, though.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.