Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code B20, part of the Sicilian Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 bxa3. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 6 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is 2 points ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
2. b4 – White plays the pawn to b4
2... cxb4 – Black captures on b4 with the c-pawn
3. a3 – White plays the pawn to a3
3... bxa3 – Black captures on a3 with the b-pawn
About the Sicilian Defense
Black answers 1.e4 with 1...c5, fighting for the d4 square from the side. The game becomes unbalanced and sharp, with chances for both sides.
After d4 and ...cxd4, Black trades a side pawn for White's centre pawn and gets an extra centre pawn.
Black uses the half-open c-file: a rook on c8 and pressure on c3 and c2.
Kings often castle on opposite sides, so both players race to attack; every tempo counts.
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