Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation

The Carlsbad Variation arises when Black meets the Marshall Variation's 3. a3 by capturing again with 3...bxa3. Taking the second pawn is the reply White's third move invites. After recapturing on a3, White is still a pawn down but has fast development and half-open a- and b-files for the rooks and queen. Black, meanwhile, is left with an extra pawn on the a-file and no central pawn exchanged. The alternative 3...d5, which leads to the Marienbad, is generally considered the more testing response. The engine nevertheless rates the Carlsbad position as roughly balanced.

White has three main fourth moves. The most common is 4. Bxa3, which places the bishop on the a3–f8 diagonal, where it bears on Black's kingside development. With 4. d4, White first occupies the center and leaves the recapture on a3 for later. 4. Nxa3 develops the knight toward b5 or c4. In online play the results are close, with White scoring slightly better than Black. The play is open and unbalanced, and it rests more on piece activity than on memorized theory.