Caissa Codex
E25

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation

Chess diagram: Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation after 8…f5

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Statistics from Lichess

2,759 games: White 44.1% / Draw 8.1% / Black 47.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,2091,209
549549
450450
306306
7373
6161
5353
1515

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.36 White is slightly better

Best play: 9. Nh3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nf6 11. c4 Qc7 12. Bc3 Na6 13. c6 Qxc6

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

Overview

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation (ECO E25, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5 (8 moves).

In 2,759 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.1%, Black 47.7% and 8.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. Nh3, in 44% of those games.

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How to play against the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Romanovsky Variation

9. c4 scores best for White: 52.2%, with White winning 49.0% and Black 44.6% of 549 games. The most played, 9. Nh3, scores 49.5% in 1,209 games, and 9. e4 scores lowest: 42.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 9. Nh3.

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, Romanovsky Variation (E25)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/nimzo-indian-defense-samisch-variation-romanovsky-variation

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