Wing Gambit, Deferred Variation

The Deferred Variation carries the Wing Gambit idea over to the 2...d6 Sicilian. After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6, White plays 3. b4, again offering the b-pawn to lure the c-pawn away from d4 so that White can later occupy the center with d4. Compared with the immediate 2. b4, White has already developed the king's knight. Black has committed to ...d6, which guards c5 and covers e5 but does nothing to meet the flank thrust.

Accepting with 3...cxb4 is by far the most common answer. The natural follow-up is 4. d4, which gives White a central majority and some compensation, although the black pawn on b4 remains a thorn in White's queenside. Black may instead decline with 3...b6, keeping the c5-pawn supported, or develop with 3...Nf6, putting pressure on e4. The engine considers the position close to balanced, with a fractional preference for Black. In online games Black scores slightly better, and opening sources mark 3. b4 as dubious.