Chess Opening Theory/1. c3/1...c5

Saragossa Opening

If white plays 2.e4 it is a transposition to the Alapin. You can keep this as unique Saragossa theory by playing 2.d4, but this is also likely to transpose into a London System with c5 and cxd4. This is considered as a bad opening as it hinders white's immediate piece development and is rarely seen in master games. In the Lichess Masters Database this line (1.c3 c5) has only appeared 27 times.

Theory Table

1.c3 c5

	2	3
Transposition to the Sicilian Alapin	e4 ...	... ...	=
	d4 cxd4	cxd4 d5	=
	e3 Nf6	d4 d5	⩱
	Nf3 d5	d4	⩱
	...	b4	⩱

References

• Lichess masters database
• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.