Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. b4

Portsmouth 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) r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/2p5/1P2P3/5N2/P1PP1PPP/RNBQKB1R b
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. b4

Portsmouth Gambit

A variant of the Wing gambit. White sacrifices the b4-pawn for a semi-open b-file and sometimes an open c-file, along with control of the center and quick development. This also frees up the a1–h8 diagonal. If Black declines the gambit, White has the threat of bxc5, or even sometimes b5.

In contrast to the regular Wing gambit, after 3...cxb4, White will play 4. d4. In many positions d5 is a threat, forcing the knight to either go to a5 or back to b8.

If Black captures with the knight, White will attack it with 4. c3. After 4...Nc6, White will attack the center with 5. d4.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. b4

	4	5	6	7
	... cxb4	d4 d5	exd5 Qxd5	c4 bxc4	=
	... Nxb4	c3 Nc6	d4 cxd4	cxd4 e6	⩱
	... e5	b5 Nd4	Nxe5 Qe7	Nc4 Qxe4+	=