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.

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 258 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

References

• Eric Schiller (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second Edition ed.). Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9. 

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