ECO A30 · English Opening

English Opening: Wing Gambit

1. c4 c5 2. b4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2… cxb4−0.78

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Wing Gambit (A30), reached after 1. c4 c5 2. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… cxb4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.78).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.782… cxb4 3. a3 e6 4. g3 d5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. cxd5
  2. −0.212… e5 3. bxc5 Bxc5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bb2 d6 7. Nc3
  3. −0.062… Nf6 3. bxc5 e5 4. Ba3 Na6 5. Nf3 e4 6. Nd4 Bxc5 7. e3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Wing Gambit?
After 1. c4 c5 2. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… cxb4 for Black, continuing 3. a3 e6 4. g3 d5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. cxd5. Black is slightly better (−0.78). The next best moves are 2… e5 (−0.21) and 2… Nf6 (−0.06).
Is the English Opening: Wing Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.78: black is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the English Opening: Wing Gambit?
A30. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).