Chess Opening Theory/1. c4/1...c5/2. b4

English Opening - Symmetrical Variation - Queen's Wing Gambit

Queen's Wing Gambit
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/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/1PP5/8/P2PPPPP/RNBQKBNR
Moves: 1. c4 c5 2. b4
ECO code: A30
Parent: English Opening, Symmetrical Variation
Synonym(s): English Wing Gambit, Wing Gambit
Responses: 2. ... b6 2. ... d6 2. ... cxb4

Alternatively referred to as the "English Wing Gambit" or just the "Wing Gambit". Not to be confused with other wing gambits.

2. b4 is the characterising move of the Queen's Wing Gambit. White sacrifices b4 to Black's c5 pawn to bring it away from the centre planning to play a later d4, and to fianchetto the queenside bishop. Similar to the Queen's Gambit in the classical sense of drawing a central pawn away from the centre, thee Queen's Wing Gambit draws a centre-influencing pawn farther away from the centre to a place where it has essentially no effect.

The Queen's Wing Gambit is considered unsound by most masters and is uncommon in high-level play, but remains unrefuted and is playable. It is a Romantic-era opening.

Responses

Black usually responds in three main ways:

2. ... b6

Black declines the gambit, as well as providing fianchetto space to the black queenside bishop. White may exchange b-pawns (3. bxc5) or may continue developing (3. e3 / 3. Nf3).

2. ... d6

Black declines the gambit with a central pawn as opposed to a flank pawn. White may exchange (3. bxc5), and Black would have to recapture with a central pawn (3. ... dxc5) to maintain equal material, in essentiality exchanging control of the centre for the flank. Such a move is suboptimal but is not unplayable; this is similar to the Polish Opening's main exchange line between a central and flank pawn.

2. ... cxb4

Black accepts the gambit. White usually proceeds in these main ways:

3. d4

White may get straight to the point of why they got c5 out of the way: to get to controlling and occupying the centre with pawns. Similar to the Saduleto Variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted (where White plays e4 as soon as possible, White chooses to play d4 before Black can play anything that hinders it e.g. e5 and the like.

3. Bb2

White fianchettoes their queenside bishop, controlling the centre from a distance as well as preventing Black e5. This is more of a hypermodern approach to the QWG. By this point, Black usually responds with 3. ... Nf6, 3. ... e6, or, more rarely, the Anglo-Scandinavian Defence-like d5.

3. a3

White offers to trade pawns, attempting to either gain initiative or space through Black's attempts to defend it, or to free up the queenside knight. This is similar to the pawn trade offer in the Benko Gambit of the Benoni Defence to the Indian Game. If Black were to accept (3. ... bxa3), White should develop the queenside bishop far through recapturing (4. Bxa3).