King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation

The Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3) is named after Friedrich Sämisch, who developed the system in the 1920s. World champions Mikhail Botvinnik, Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov have all played it.

The idea

5.f3 defends the e4-pawn to create a secure centre and lets White put a bishop on e3 without allowing ...Ng4. White can then attack on the kingside with Be3, Qd2, Bh6, g4 and h4. The drawback is that the g1-knight loses its most natural square, which slows White's kingside development. Play is often very sharp, with the players castling on opposite wings, but the Sämisch can also lead to heavyweight positional struggles. Black has several pawn breaks: ...e5, ...c5, and ...b5 prepared by ...c6 and/or ...a6.

Main lines

After 5...O-O:

• 6.Be3 e5, the Classical Defence (Orthodox Variation in this database). White chooses between closing the centre with 7.d5 (Closed Variation) and keeping the tension with 7.Nge2. Kasparov was a major proponent of this defence.
• 6.Be3 c5, the Sämisch Gambit. It was once considered dubious but now has a good reputation. If White accepts with 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bxc5 Nc6 (Accepted), Black's activity is believed to give enough compensation. White more often declines with 7.Nge2, and after 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 the game transposes to the Accelerated Dragon of the Sicilian. A practical drawback for Black is that a well-prepared but unambitious White player can often steer into lines leading to a forced draw.
• 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nge2 a6 8.Qd2 Rb8, the Panno Variation (Panno Main Line in this database). If White castles long and attacks on the kingside, Black counterattacks with ...b5; if White plays more cautiously, Black challenges the centre with ...e5.
• 6.Bg5 (Steiner Attack in this database) c5 7.d5 e6 can transpose to the Modern Benoni.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• A secure centre and a safe square on e3 for the bishop.
• White can choose between a direct kingside attack and a slower positional game.

Weaknesses

• The g1-knight loses its best square and White's kingside development is slow.
• Black has many ways to hit back, including the Sämisch Gambit and the Panno.

Who should play it

The Sämisch suits White players who like a solid centre and attacking chances against the King's Indian. Black needs to know at least one of the main defences well.

The numbers

On Lichess White is ahead at every level: 50.3% against 46.2% for Black under 1400, 52.6% against 43.7% at 1400–1799, 51.4% against 43.7% at 1800–2199, and 49.8% against 43.3% from 2200 up. In about 15,400 master games White won 38.2%, Black 24.7%, and 37.1% were drawn.