Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred

The Wing Gambit Deferred is 2.Nf3 e6 3.b4, a pawn offer on the queenside after the king's knight is already out. White hopes to deflect the c5 pawn and build a center with c3 and d4, but Black can take and develop with a small edge.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b4
ECO
B40
Engine
−0.37 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
268 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 3...cxb4 4.a3, push 5.e5 against the f6 knight before Black can settle it with support.
  • Recover the pawn with axb4 and then play c3 and d4 to build the center the gambit was aiming for.
  • Against 3...d5, the check 5.Bb5+ and castling with Re1+ is the most active way to use the open e-file.
  • Keep the a-file in mind: once a3 and axb4 happen, the a1 rook is already working.

Black

  • Take with 3...cxb4. The engine likes Black after 4.a3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd5 6.axb4 Bxb4 7.c3.
  • Hit e4 with ...Nf6 right away so White has to spend time pushing e5.
  • Put the knight on d5, where it blocks the d-pawn and eyes b4 and c3.
  • ...d5 is a solid alternative, opening the center while White's queenside is loose.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a dubious gambit for White: Black can grab the pawn and develop with an edge. In the main line White gets the pawn back on b4, but the knight on d5 and the bishop on b4 leave Black very active, and White's d-pawn is still on d2. White's plan is c3, d4, Bd3 and castling, hoping the extra center pawn matters later. Black castles quickly, plays ...d6 to challenge e5, and uses the open c-file and the d5 outpost.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.37: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.37 3...cxb4 4.a3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd5 6.axb4
  2. −0.18 3...d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.O-O
  3. +0.01 3...d6 4.bxc5 dxc5 5.a4 Bd7 6.Bb2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

268 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.1%.

1200–159937.5%
1600–199952.8%
2000 and up55.9%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, accept with 3...cxb4 and answer a3 with ...Nf6. Put the knight on d5 if White pushes e5, and do not cling to the b4 pawn at all costs: returning it for quick development is fine. Avoid ...bxa3 grabs that hand White a lead in development for free.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred?

The Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b4. Its ECO code is B40.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.37 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 268 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.1%. A surprise weapon for attacking White players, but against a calm Black who takes and develops it gives nothing and can backfire.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred?

White gives the b-pawn to lure Black's c-pawn away from the center and then builds with a3, c3 and d4. Black takes the pawn, hits e4 with ...Nf6, and parks the knight on d5 for a comfortable game.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is cxb4, with d5 and d6 close behind. 3...cxb4 takes the pawn, and after 4.a3 Nf6 Black's knight reaches d5 with an active position.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.