Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Capablanca Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
1,830 games: White 45.5% / Draw 6.9% / Black 47.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,1301,130 | ||
| 243243 | ||
| 182182 | ||
| 126126 | ||
| 5454 | ||
| 4646 | ||
| 2626 | ||
| 88 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 7, 2026
Engine evaluation
0.00 The position is about equal
Best play: 10. O-O Ba6 11. f4 f5 12. Ng3 g6 13. Be3 Nf6 14. dxc5 Ng4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Capablanca Variation (ECO E29, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O 8. Ne2 b6 9. e4 Ne8 (9 moves).
In 1,830 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.5%, Black 47.5% and 6.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. O-O, in 62% of those games.
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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Capablanca Variation
10. Be3 scores best for White: 58.0%, with White winning 54.4% and Black 38.5% of 182 games. The most played, 10. O-O, scores 50.2% in 1,130 games, and 10. e5 scores lowest: 42.9%. Stockfish's first choice is 10. O-O.
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, Capablanca Variation (E29)”. Lichess data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-samisch-variation-capablanca-variation