Saragossa, here we come!

Saragossa, here we come!
Ready for the Saragossa Opening (1.c3 Nf6)?

We travel back to the year 1922. The warmth of the day still lingers over the rooftops of Saragossa, the Ebro flows quietly past the city, and the great basilica watches over the Plaza del Pilar. In the cafes and club rooms of the city, people talk not only about life, but also about chess. And right there, from a modest first move, an idea with character begins to grow: 1.c3.

In the Zaragoza chess club, players begin to play, test, and analyse this quiet move seriously. A small club idea becomes an opening with its own name. Soon after, in 1922, a real theme tournament is held in Mannheim in which every game must begin with 1.c3. This is not a later embellishment, but real chess history.

Our tournament follows the same spirit: not a loud theory hammer, but a quiet, elegant beginning - followed by honest chess. Anyone who joins is not only playing a rare opening, but also a small piece of chess history. Saragossa, here we come!

Zaragoza (Saragossa) at dusk - image source: Wikimedia Commons

This is our starting position:

Note: Since this event starts from a custom position, games must unfortunately be played unrated on Chess.com.

We will start either when all spots are filled, or no later than 01 May 2026.

 A few notes about the tournament:

• History of the Saragossa Opening
• Saragossa Opening on Chess.com
• Official City of Zaragoza website

AI Disclosure: The trophy icons, banners, and other graphics for this tournament are AI-generated; parts of the text may be AI-assisted.