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1. e4 c5 2. b4?!
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DerKlinker wrote:
it's not working
Hehe, odd bug. It's fixed now :)
The position is pretty good for white. I might try it if someone uses sicilian.
Thats called the wing gambit:carlbad variation (1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3) and it really does not work very well, you might as well just play standard sicilain.
richie_and_oprah wrote:
1. e4 c5 2. b4?1 cxb 3. a3 d5! is known theory (Sicilian Wing Gambit) and Black is just fine.
Grabbing the a3 pawn gives White a little bit too much what they want in life.
Yeah I figured most people wouldn't take a3 lol. But if d5 white should still be able to recapture later and not be too bad. I think this opening would be okay for blitz though, to catch people off-guard.
Hydroxide wrote:
richie_and_oprah wrote:
1. e4 c5 2. b4?1 cxb 3. a3 d5! is known theory (Sicilian Wing Gambit) and Black is just fine.
Grabbing the a3 pawn gives White a little bit too much what they want in life.
Yeah I figured most people wouldn't take a3 lol. But if d5 white should still be able to recapture later and not be too bad. I think this opening would be okay for blitz though, to catch people off-guard.
You'de be surprised how many people take the a3 pawn. I have played this on occasions and 90% of the time it was taken.
I'd never seen this before, but ~2 months ago I decided to play this in an OTB tourney against an expert and utterly destroyed him. 1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb 3.d4 d5 4.exd Nf6 5.a3 Nxd5 6.axb Nxb4 7.c3 Nd5 8.Be3 and I already feel like I'm winning.
I now play e4 c5 b4 and the Evans Gambit regularly in long games. Soon enough I bet I'll simply be playing 1.b4
A few comments on the wing gambit can be found here: http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/the-wing-gambit
Personally I like the move 3...bxa3 as well, challenge white's gambit by making him prove compensation as I don't think it's the strongest gambit out there. ...d5 is usually the most favored move but ...bxa3 is quite good as well. I think the move is underrated.
Bye doing this you could go for the maroczy bind
I remember the good old days, when this was called the Keres Gamit....
Pretty sure Eric Schiller covers this in his Gambit Chess:
http://www.ericschiller.com/chess/chess_openings.htm
Hydroxide wrote:
Just an idea I had, check it out below and tell me what you think! See the moves list for all variations. Try this in blitz games to catch your opponent off-guard!
I have not tried this in any tournaments but my coach says he has played it a lot and as he said you dont need to give a3 pawn and this is very helpful in blitz your opponent wont know what hit them
I know its an old thread, but instead of a3, I used to play c3, bxc3, Nxc3. Thought it was Morra gambit, but that seems to be d4 instead of b4...
I tried it because I play gambits and don't like the standard Sicilian., but I don't like it. I now always play 2. c3. You might also consider 2. f4 or the Smith-Morra gambit.
NEVER AGAIN!
Smith Morra FOR LIFE!
Jan 18, 2023
0
#19
The Wing Gambit used to be my favorite Sicilian line as I liked the idea of captures, 2. a3, captures and bishop captures but I basically never get that and it ends up being simply better for black every single time so I respect those who still employ it but I will take 2. Nf3 now any day.
Jan 30, 2023
0
#20
I just started a series on calculation (for now it's only focusing on the openings) but it helps you decide when to use opening principles and when to ignore them.
It's like a 1-2 minute read.
I hope this helps! 
Just an idea I had, check it out below and tell me what you think! See the moves list for all variations. Try this in blitz games to catch your opponent off-guard!