Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Botvinnik Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
4,554 games: White 42.7% / Draw 6.7% / Black 50.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,7641,764 | ||
| 849849 | ||
| 535535 | ||
| 408408 | ||
| 321321 | ||
| 205205 | ||
| 136136 | ||
| 104104 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.17 The position is about equal
Best play: 9. Ne2 Bd7 10. dxc5 Qa5 11. e4 Nc7 12. Qd2 Nca6 13. c4 Nc6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Botvinnik Variation (ECO E24, 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. e3 O-O 8. cxd5 Nxd5 (8 moves).
In 4,554 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.7%, Black 50.6% and 6.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. Bd2, in 39% of those games.
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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Botvinnik Variation
The most played answer, 9. Bd2, also scores best for White: 48.1%, with White winning 44.9% and Black 48.7% of 1,764 games. Of the main answers, 9. dxc5 scores lowest: 41.1%. Stockfish's first choice is 9. Ne2.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Botvinnik Variation (E24)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-samisch-variation-botvinnik-variation