King's RepositoryのロゴKing's Repository

Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. Nf3/2...d5/3. e5/3...c5/4. b4

French defence
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4
ECO code: C00
Parent: French defence

4. b4 · Wing gambit

[edit | edit source]

White gambits the b-pawn in order to steer Black's c-pawn away from the centre. There isn't much theory in this line due to it being relatively rare. Despite being an unorthodox opening, it is a fairly sound way to meet the French defence.[1]

4...cxb4, accepting the gambit, is the most principled move. White is usually quick to offer the a-pawn as well, but this sacrifice is less likely to be accepted by Black.

Black can also choose not to accept the pawn, and they might not even be worse off in doing so.

4...b6 tries to stabilise the centre and trade light-squared bishops. After 5. c3 Black has to respond with 5...Qd7 to not lose the bishop after ...Ba6.

4...d4 grabs space in the centre and tries to slow down White's development.[2]

Theory Table

[edit | edit source]

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4

4 5 6 7 8
...
cxb4
a3
Nc6
axb4
Bxb4
c3
Be7
d4
Bd7
=
...
...
...
bxa3
d4
Nc6
c3 =
...
b6
c3
Qd7
a3
Ba6
Bxa6
Nxa6
d4
...
d4
bxc5
Bxc5
Ba3
Qa5
Bxc5
Qxc5
c3
Nc6

References

[edit | edit source]

See also

[edit | edit source]


v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4 e5
Open games
3. Bb5
Spanish
3. Bc4
Italian
3. Nc3
Three knights
Other
2...Nf6
Russian
2...d6
Philidor
Other
2. f4
King's gambit
2. Nc3
Vienna
Other
1. e4 c5
Sicilian
1. e4 e6
French
1. e4 c6
Caro-Kann
1. e4 other
1. d4 d5
Closed games
1. d4 Nf6
Indian
1. d4 f5
Dutch
1. d4 ...other:
Flank
Unorthodox