Saragossa opening overview

This is going to be a little overview of the Saragossa opening (1. c3), which I spent the last few weeks researching. I think this opening is astoundingly underplayed. There's a chessable course on this opening from a 2500 rated player out now, he plays it as his main opening... As of today it's played in 0% of games according to the lichess database... but it should be played alot more.

In particular if you're a london player and you're tired of facing some anti-london lines such as c5/Qb6, or if you like many of these early c3 grindy lines like the alapin, slav exchange, caro kann exchange, and some others... or if you're just looking to throw off your opponent - this is a great way to reach the positions you want.

After 1. c3 black has 4 common replies: 1... d5, 1... Nf6, 1... e5, and 1... c5

1... e5 is a reversed caro-kann where you're a tempo ahead, and can lead to a few interesting positions.

The most common continuation 2... exd4 transposes into the QGD exchange:

Another line 2... e5 is essentially an advanced caro-kann except you're a tempo up. All the lines in the caro-kann just hit alot lighter here.

Overall 1... e5 is a great line for white, since white can leverage knowledge of the caro-kann and QGD exchange against a player who likely will not play either of these openings.

Another common move is 1... c5. There are two different responses from white here which look interesting. The first is to play 2. e4, which is just a direct transposition into the alapin sicilian. Again our opponent might not be a sicilian player, so we can assume there will be some benefit to making such an early transposition:

The other option, which is more interesting for white, is to play 2. d4. Here we're in pretty underexplored territory, black has a number of common responses.

After 2... d5 this line can be transpose into some slav gambit-like positions, a reversed triangle system which can become a reversed noteboom-like position, or the caro-kann exchange. Overall it's quite brutal on black seeing as he will with certainty have never seen any of this and no idea how to proceed when things get sharp, and they often do-

reversed pseudo-noteboom -

caro-kann exchange, rubinstein variation-

Another common response by black is 2... cxd4 which becomes a slav exchange, or a french defense which is very inferior for black, or a very inferior pirc for black. Again I think these lines look great for white -

this is a pirc where whites knight isnt blocking in his c pawn and black has no c5 pawn push-

other less common 2nd moves here for black will transpose into an alapin again, or sometimes a london or torre.

So that's 1... e5 and 1... c5 taken care of, both look great.

What about 1... d5? Usually it leads to a variety of london or torre setups, but where you can choose to avoid blacks early c5 / Qb6 lines, and you can choose to play the desirable lines in the Torre.

Of blacks 2nd moves after 1... d5 we already covered 2... c5, which transposes with our reversed triangle. Most common for black is 2... Nf6, to which we respond with the waiting move 3. Nf3, waiting to decide if we want to play a Torre or London. This position is a known position in the Zuckertort. It also can be reached via 1. c3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3.

Here after 3... e6 - the e6 lines in the Torre are generally considered its best lines, personally I choose the Torre here-

If 3... Bf5 4. Qb6 you get a novel position and some pressure, kind of like a reversed london Qb6 setup or an early slav, advantage goes to white -

3... c6 or 3... g6 and we just play 4. Bf4 and get a london where black has played the not-so-useful moves c6 or g6.

Okay, that covers most of 1... d5. The last common response from black is 1... Nf6. We respond with 2. d4 again. If black responds 2... d5 we transpose to the position just discussed. But black can also play a few other moves:

2... c5 - here you could push d5 or play cxd5, which are unique lines. You can also play 2... Nf3 which leads into a line in the speilmann-indian. This will later transpose w/ the london, the slav exchange, or some other unique sidelines. But this could lead to some of the c5 / Qb6 lines in the london which I want to avoid in this repertoire. And if you push d5 you usually followup with c4 where you've wasted a tempo, it's an improved benoni for black. But here I like playing e6, going back to the triangle system, which can again lead to a variety of slav-gambit positions, or the caro-kan exchange -

If 2... e6 again this will often transpose into the Torre, which I generally like against e6 setups -

Lastly against 2... g6 we play a london setup:

In summary:
Many of these lines are common or similar to various openings that people play regularly. Some people play the london as their main opening. And yet here with c3 you have alot more flexibility.

- we can avoid the testing lines against the london which feature an early c5 / Qb6

- we can choose to play preferred lines in the Torre with 2... e6 played

- we can transpose into a QGD exchange, caro-kann exchange, slav exchange, or alapin against players who may not play these openings

- there are a variety of interesting early dxc5 slav-like gambits as well

- some of the sharpest lines occur in the white triangle setup which can lead to a reversed pseudo-noteboom or some other gambits

Overall I think this is a very underestimated / neglected opening and for players who like these offbeat c3 setups I think it's very powerful.