ECO B40 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b4

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… cxb4−0.36

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred (B40), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… cxb4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.363… cxb4 4. a3 bxa3 5. Nxa3 a6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. e5 Ne4 8. O-O
  2. −0.113… d5 4. Bb5+ Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Qe2+ Be6 7. O-O cxb4 8. Bb2
  3. +0.083… d6 4. bxc5 Nf6 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Qe2 dxc5 7. a4 a6 8. Bxd7+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… cxb4 for Black, continuing 4. a3 bxa3 5. Nxa3 a6 6. Be2 Nf6 7. e5 Ne4 8. O-O. Black is slightly better (−0.36). The next best moves are 3… d5 (−0.11) and 3… d6 (+0.08).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.36: 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 Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred?
B40. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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