According to Lichess (September 2026, N = 65,013 games rated 900 to 1700), you score 50.0% with the Saragossa Opening, 1.. The c3 pawn leaves the center alone for one move: it prepares 2. and backs it up when your opponent attacks it with a pawn on c5. Strong players follow 2. 3. 4. 5.. That is the line explained here, along with the mistakes that cost you most at your level.
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
1 named line in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
At your level, your opponent answers 1. with in 40 of every 100 games and with in 26. Online players rated over 2200 spread their choices more evenly: in 26, in 23 and in 20. After , both groups most often pick 2. in 33 of every 100 games. At your level (24 in 100) is almost as common as (26); strong players go in 48 and in just 3. After , strong players continue 3. in 46 of every 100; at your level the top choice is 3., at 24. You score 50 to 51 out of 100 in every band from 900 to 1700; players over 2200, 52.5.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39.9% | 50.0% | 22.7% | no data | |
| 25.5% | 49.7% | 25.9% | no data | |
| 7.2% | 49.9% | 4.1% | no data | |
| 6.0% | 49.0% | 20.0% | no data | |
| 5.3% | 49.7% | 8.6% | no data | |
| 3.8% | 49.9% | 6.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32.8% | 49.6% | 33.4% | no data | |
| 19.9% | 51.9% | no data | no data | |
| 11.5% | 48.8% | 21.4% | no data | |
| 7.5% | 49.2% | no data | no data | |
| 5.4% | 47.3% | 4.6% | no data | |
| 4.7% | 55.8% | 4.0% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 24.7% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 4.2% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26.4% | 49.8% | 47.6% | no data | |
| 23.7% | 50.2% | 2.7% | no data | |
| 17.2% | 50.1% | 13.9% | no data | |
| 14.7% | 49.9% | 6.6% | no data | |
| 5.3% | 51.2% | 16.0% | no data | |
| 4.6% | 50.2% | 11.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.7% | 51.2% | 3.4% | no data | |
| 17.7% | 48.9% | 46.4% | no data | |
| 12.2% | 50.1% | 27.9% | no data | |
| 12.0% | 49.4% | no data | no data | |
| 10.6% | 50.4% | 13.6% | no data | |
| 5.7% | 47.8% | 4.2% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 2.9% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.2% | 50.6% | no data | no data | |
| 23.8% | 51.8% | 18.7% | 58.8% | |
| 18.9% | 48.6% | 25.6% | 17.6% | |
| 13.5% | 48.1% | 3.3% | no data | |
| 5.6% | 53.2% | 7.4% | no data | |
| 5.5% | 49.9% | 28.3% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 13.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | no data | 23.5% |
The Saragossa holds back the center for one move so it can take it with support. The strong-player line, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5., builds a pawn chain on c3, d4 and e3 with your dark-squared bishop outside it, on f4. Your opponent leans on d4, and you hold it mostly with pawns.
1. covers d4 before the pawn gets there and opens your queen's diagonal toward b3 and a4. After , players at your level sometimes use that diagonal at once with 2. or 2.; strong players prefer 2., which takes the center with that support already in place. develops and watches e4; 3. does the same for e5 and adds another defender of d4. Then comes , the break that hits d4. If your opponent trades on d4, you take back with the c3 pawn and keep a pawn in the center.
The order of the next two moves is the whole point. 4. gets the bishop out before 5., because a pawn on e3 shuts the c1 bishop's diagonal: push it first and the bishop is stuck behind your own chain. At your level that order often gets flipped. After , 3. is the move you see most, and strong players choose it in only 3 of every 100 games. brings a second attacker to d4, and 5. adds the fourth defender. Now d4 has your queen, the c3 and e3 pawns and the f3 knight against the c5 pawn and the c6 knight. On top of that, e3 frees the f1 bishop. And with the bishop on f4, the e5 square is covered three times: by the f3 knight, the d4 pawn and the bishop itself.
That solid center has a cost. When the bishop left c1, b2 lost its only guard, and nothing else covers it. That is why is the strong players' reply in 70 of every 100 games: the queen hits b2 even though you have done nothing wrong. At your level 33 in 100 find it, so expect it. If you ignore it, the queen takes on b2 and from there hits your a1 rook, which has no defender, and your b1 knight. Before you finish developing, decide how you will cover b2 without letting go of d4. After that the plan is simple: bishop out from f1, castle short, and keep the chain intact while your opponent looks for a way to break it.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 2,964 | 25.9% | |
| 758 | 33.4% | |
| 1,630 | 47.6% | |
| 1,402 | 46.4% | |
| 2,214 | 27.8% | |
| 1,077 | 52.3% | |
| 1,620 | 71.9% | |
| 1,189 | 88.8% |
After 2. , 3. lets the e5 pawn advance with tempo on the knight. Then 4. 5. 6.: your opponent props up the chain and the bishop eyes h2. 3. removes that pawn first. 24 in 100 players choose it, and it is rarely punished: you score 48 out of 100, against 51 with 3..
24 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.1%; scores 50.7%.
After 2. , 3. locks in your c1 bishop. Then 4. 5. 6.: the d5 and f5 pawns hold the one on e4, which takes d3 and f3 away from you. 28 in 100 players choose it here. It is hardly punished at your level: you score 50 out of 100, and 51 with 3..
28 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.6%; scores 50.7%.
After , 2. does nothing for the center and takes f3 away from your g1 knight. Then 3. 4. 5.: one knight detours via the rim and the other is still on g1. 2 in 100 players choose it. It is rarely punished at your level: you score 49 out of 100, against 50 with 2..
2 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.3 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.5%; scores 49.6%.
After , 2. grabs queenside space, and your c3 pawn guards it from the f8 bishop, but the center goes to your opponent: 3. 4. 5., with pawns on d5 and e5. 3 in 100 players choose it. It barely changes the result at your level: you score 49 out of 100, against 50 with 2..
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.0%; scores 49.6%.
After 2. , 3. shuts in the c1 bishop and passes up 3., which attacks the c6 knight. Then 4. 5. 6. gives your opponent a chain on d5, e4 and f5. 24 in 100 players choose it. This one does show in the results: you score 51 out of 100, and 55 with 3..
24 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.4%; scores 54.6%.
After , 2. blocks your g1 knight's natural square. With your opponent has two central pawns; in 3. 4. 5. your other knight spends two moves just to support d4. 2 in 100 players choose it here. It is rarely punished at your level: you score 47 out of 100, and 50 with 2..
2 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.3 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.2%; scores 49.6%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 17,826 | ||
| Not castled | 17,741 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 13,454 |
| Not castled | 4,775 | |
| Not castled | 3,660 | |
| 3,030 |