Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
785,391 games: White 49.8% / Draw 4.0% / Black 46.2%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 357,519358K | ||
| 204,708205K | ||
| 160,956161K | ||
| 33,11833K | ||
| 15,22115K | ||
| 5,6985,698 | ||
| 2,6482,648 | ||
| 2,0302,030 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 5, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.26 The position is about equal
Best play: 4. d4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. h3 d6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O Nf6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
By rating
Rating changes little here: Black scores 50% under 1400, 48% at 2200 and up (wins plus half the draws).
| Players | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1400 | 31K | |
| 1400–1799 | 266K | |
| 1800–2199 | 523K | |
| 2200 and up | 75K | |
| Masters, over the board | 63 |
Master games
- Savchenko, B. – Dubov, D.
- Hug, W. – Anand, V.
- Hug, W. – Baramidze, D.
- Shirazi, K. – Grandelius, N.
- Savchenko, B. – Yeletsky, I.
Rated blitz, rapid and classical Lichess games by rating band, and over-the-board games of players rated 2200+ from the Lichess masters database, updated Sep 27, 2026
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation (ECO B20, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 bxa3 (3 moves).
In 785,391 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.8%, Black 46.2% and 4.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 4. Bxa3, in 46% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation
4. d4 scores best for White: 53.9%, with White winning 51.9% and Black 44.1% of 161K games. The most played answer, 4. Bxa3, scores lowest: 50.0% in 358K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 4. d4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Popularity by year
The Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation peaked in 2019 at 0.035% of Lichess games and has slipped since: 0.03% in 2025.
Numbers by year
| Year | Share of games | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.026% | 9,352 |
| 2017 | 0.029% | 16,226 |
| 2018 | 0.033% | 26,105 |
| 2019 | 0.035% | 43,576 |
| 2020 | 0.032% | 94,899 |
| 2021 | 0.031% | 119,985 |
| 2022 | 0.031% | 116,255 |
| 2023 | 0.028% | 106,949 |
| 2024 | 0.028% | 100,015 |
| 2025 | 0.03% | 104,603 |
| 2026 (Jan–Apr) | 0.031% | 33,940 |
Share of rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500 (blitz, rapid and classical) that reach this position, by year; 2026: January to April. Which openings are rising and falling
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation (B20)”. Lichess data as of 5 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-wing-gambit-carlsbad-variation