Caissa Codex
E25

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation 6…c5 7. cxd5

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation after 7. cxd5

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Statistics from Lichess

42,970 games: White 50.6% / Draw 6.6% / Black 42.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
21,12421K
20,22020K
1,0541,054
420420
8282
4848
1212
44

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.12 The position is about equal

Best play: 7... Nxd5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. e4 Ne7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qd2 Na6 12. Bxa6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (ECO E25, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 (7 moves).

In 42,970 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.6%, Black 42.8% and 6.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…exd5, in 49% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation. In all, 2 named lines continue from it.

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How to answer 7. cxd5

7…Nxd5 scores best for Black: 51.1%, with Black winning 47.0% and White 44.8% of 20K games. The most played answer, 7…exd5, scores lowest: 41.7% in 21K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…Nxd5.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4…d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5, the position after Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation also goes on to:

All 2 named lines that continue from here

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (E25)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-samisch-variation-5

https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-samisch-variation-5