Strange Sicilian Lines: Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation

Ok, I got a request from skakmadurinn rated 1903 (Online Chess) for the line 1.e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3.

Well, to start, my engine (Hiarcs 14) gives this position -0.43 recomending 3...e5. Now, as most of you know, computers are not great a evaluating opening positions. My evauation is that the position is about equal, but White is the one why has to prove it.

 It is not in Blacks best interest to play 3...bxa3, because it gives White more play than he should get out of that line. In the position after 3...bxa3,

the evaluation goes down to -0.26 ~=, but not as good for Black as it could be. Much better is 3…e5, when Black is happy.

Now here 4.Nf3 is by far the most popular move, but White only wins 25% of the time, while Black wins more than 43% of the time.

Now there are three moves for White, 5.Bc4, 5.Bb5, and 5.axb4. The most common is 5.Bc4, but before looking at the main move we will look at the other two in less detail. First is 5.Bb5, the move my engine likes, is interesting, but Black is doing great after this.

Rember when you are up material don't simplify, keep it simple.

Now to cover the second try for White, 5.axb4.

And now to look at the main move for White, 5.Bc4. After 5.Bc4 Black stands very well, here is the main continuation.

Now, after our obvious but strong 5…Nf6 there are no wins for White in the database! In fact, White is only able to draw 40% of the time, with Black winning 60% of the time! Whites two moves are 6.d3, and 6.Ng5. 6.Ng5 is met easily by 6…d5.

The main move is 6.d3, but of course we have a novelty for that to!

I think that sums up the opening, and now I will include a master game in this variation.

Well, that was fun! I hope you all learned something, I know I did. I would say to sum it all up, that the Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation is about equal, but White is the one who needs to prove it. This could be a dangerous surprise weapon if your opponent is not prepared to handle it. Plaese leave a comment here, or an idea for a variation on the Strange Sicilian Lines: Share Page

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/strange-sicilian-lines-share-page

Awesome! This is cool thanks for doing this, I hope you get to do my line!

What about 3...d5