Chess Opening Theory/1. c3

Saragossa Opening
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/2P5/PP1PPPPP/RNBQKBNR b
Moves: 1.c3
ECO code: A00
Parent: Starting position

1. c3 · Saragossa Opening

A rarely played move as it takes away the Knight's developing square c3. It is likely to transpose into a London System, Torre attack, Colle system, or Macleod Attack where the pawn structure is generally c3, d4, e3, or e5 depending on black's moves. Another possible idea, following the response 1.c3 c5, is to transpose into the Alapin.

Statistics

Chess.com master database

The Saragossa Opening was played 494 times in games in the Chess.com master database

Approximate chances

White win 30%, Draw 26%, Black win 44%.

Next move popularity

Nf6 28%, d5 19%, e5 11%, c5 10%, f5 6%, g6 4%, b6 3%, d6 2%, e6 2%, other moves 2%

Lichess master database

The Saragossa Opening was played 289 times in games in the Lichess master database

Approximate chances

White win 31%, Draw 34%, Black win 34%.

Next move popularity

Nf6 34%, d5 24%, e5 12%, c5 10%, g6 6%, b6 5%, f5 5%, d6 2%, other moves 2%

Theory table

1.c3

	1	2
	c3 Nf6	d4
	... d5	d4	=
	... e5	d4
See Sicilian Defence (but played by White)	... ...	c4	=
Lopez Opening	... ...	e4

All possible Black's moves

Quick Navigation

Na6 a6 a5

b6 b5

Nc6 c6 c5

d6 d5

e6 e5

Nf6 f6 f5

g6 g5

Nh6 h6 h5

References

• Eric Schiller (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second Edition ed.). Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.