e6 is bad, cxb4 is better, than after a3 or d4 black has to play d5! and it is ok from blacks side. Surely the move b4 is not a bad one, but it is not easy to play with the pawn down
I heard that the recent trend against the wing gambit was to play with a d6/e5 structure instead of a d5/e6 structure as black.
makes sense, Simon Williams played a nice game as white recently enough against a Polish GM. I would much prefer to play the white side if given a choice.
#3 This is a possibility, black plays 2. ... e5 3.bxc5 Bxc5 and then like the Italian Opening. The question, as always, is not what is the best counter but rather what do you want to get? 3. ... b6 is also a decent option, since after bxc5 black has a more harmonical way of development than white (and bxc5 is forced, otherwise black will beat later on b4 with advantage)
And for the pawn sac and e6/d5 black has surely to know his stuff (more than 5 moves), but both the plans with f6 and b7-b5 sac are enough to get adequate play as black. Even GMs do miss theory lessons sometimes. From a pure theoretical point the gambit is no threat for black at all, that's all I had to say :)
And for the pawn sac and e6/d5 black has surely to know his stuff (more than 5 moves), but both the plans with f6 and b7-b5 sac are enough to get adequate play as black. Even GMs do miss theory lessons sometimes. From a pure theoretical point the gambit is no threat for black at all, that's all I had to say :)
A better version of the wing gambit for White might be 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 and only if 2... d6 then 3.b4!?. This is considered about equal with chances for both sides, whereas 1.e4 c5 2.b4?! ought to be better for Black.
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