Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation

Before the first move

The Sämisch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian is a battle of structure versus activity. White accepts doubled c-pawns to gain the bishop pair and a massive center, while Black aims to exploit those pawn weaknesses and maintain a flexible, rapid development.

1. d4White

White starts with d4, a move that immediately challenges the center and prepares for a solid positional game. You have many ways to respond, but preventing White from playing a quick e4 is usually the priority.

1... Nf6Black · your move

Develop your knight to f6. This is the most flexible response to d4, controlling the e4 and d5 squares. It keeps your options open for several different defensive setups while preventing White's ideal pawn center.

Other paths here: Na6 (Australian Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense: Borg Gambit) · b6 (English Defense) · e5 (Englund Gambit)

2. c4White

White plays c4, expanding in the center and preparing for a space advantage. You might see White try the London System or the Tartakower Attack with g3, but c4 is the most ambitious and traditional continuation.

Other paths here: f4 (Canard Opening) · g4 (Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit) · e4 (Indian Defense: Omega Gambit) · d5 (Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation)

2... e6Black · your move

Push your pawn to e6. This move solidifies your center and opens the diagonal for your dark-squared bishop. You are preparing to challenge White's knight once it reaches c3, a hallmark of the Nimzo-Indian.

Other paths here: g5 (Indian Defense: Medusa Gambit) · b5 (Indian Defense: Pyrenees Gambit) · a6 (Indian: 2.c4 a6) · Nc6 (Mexican Defense)

3. Nc3White

White plays Nc3, the most direct way to contest the center. White could also choose the Catalan with g3 or the Anti-Nimzo with a3, but this move invites the pin that defines the next phase of the game.

Other paths here: g3 (Catalan Opening) · Qb3 (Indian Defense) · g4 (Indian Defense: Devin Gambit) · Bg5 (Indian Defense: Seirawan Attack)

3... Bb4Black · your move

Slide your bishop to b4. By pinning the knight to the king, you neutralize White's control over the e4 square. This is the defining move of the Nimzo-Indian, focusing on piece activity rather than early pawn centralisation.

Other paths here: b6 (Queen's Pawn: Neo-Indian, 3...b6) · c5 (Queen's Pawn: Neo-Indian, 3...c5) · d5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation)

4. e3White

White plays e3, a very solid choice known as the Rubinstein System. White has more aggressive options like the Mikenas Attack with Qd3 or the Kmoch Variation with f3, but e3 remains the most popular at all levels.

Other paths here: f3 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation) · Qd3 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Mikenas Attack) · g3 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation) · Bd2 (Nimzo-Indian: 4.Bd2)

4... O-OBlack · your move

Castle your king to the kingside. This secures your king and brings your rook closer to the center. Castling early is a key principle in the Nimzo-Indian, as the center can often open up very quickly.

Other paths here: Nc6 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Taimanov Variation) · c5 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System) · b6 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: St. Petersburg Variation) · d5 (Keres Variation, Nimzo-Indian)

5. a3White

White plays a3, the aggressive Sämisch Variation. Instead of slower development like the Reshevsky with Ne2 or the Normal Variation with Bd3, White immediately asks the bishop to capture or retreat.

Other paths here: Ne2 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Reshevsky Variation) · Bd3 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation) · Nf3 (Nimzo-Indian Defense)

5... Bxc3+Black · your move

Capture the knight on c3. Since retreating the bishop would lose time, you trade it off to damage White's pawn structure. You give up the bishop pair but create permanent weaknesses on the c-file for White to defend.

6. bxc3White

White recaptures with bxc3. The stage is set: White has a powerful center and the bishop pair but must deal with the static weakness of the c4 pawn. You will now look to exploit those doubled pawns.

Where you stand

The position is dynamically balanced. White will try to use the central pawn mass and the bishop pair to create an attack on the kingside, often playing f3 and e4. Black will aim to blockade the center and pressure the weak c4 pawn using maneuvers like Na5 and Ba6. The game often becomes a race between White's central breakthrough and Black's queenside pressure.

• b8-a5 Knight maneuvers to a5 to pressure c4
• c8-a6 Bishop develops to a6 to attack c4
• f2-f3 White plays f3 to support e4
• e3-e4 White pushes e4 to seize the center
• g1-g3 Knight routes to g3 to aid attack