King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation

Before the first move

The Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defense is a sharp, confrontational setup where White solidifies the center with f3. This move blunts your dark-squared bishop but prepares a kingside storm. You will aim to strike back in the center quickly while navigating White's solid structure and potential queenside castling.

1. d4White

White starts with d4, the Queen's Pawn Opening. This move fights for the center and allows the development of the dark-squared bishop. While e4 is the most common alternative, d4 leads to more strategic, slower-burning battles where understanding pawn structures is key to success.

1... Nf6Black · your move

Develop your knight to f6. This flexible move prevents White from immediately playing e4 and keeps your options open. You are preparing to see how White commits their pawns before deciding on your own pawn structure in the 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 to develop the knight to c3. Other tries like the London System with Bf4 or the Trompowsky with Bg5 are common, but c4 is the most ambitious way to challenge Black's hypermodern setup.

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

2... g6Black · your move

Push your pawn to g6. You are preparing to fianchetto your bishop to g7, where it will exert long-range pressure across the longest diagonal on the board. This is the definitive signal that you are entering the King's Indian Defense.

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 natural developing move. White could also try g3 to enter a Fianchetto System or Bg5 to pressure the f6 knight, but Nc3 prepares the full e4 push, challenging Black to react to a massive central space advantage.

Other paths here: d5 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Advance Variation) · f3 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation) · h4 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Basman-Williams Attack) · g3 (King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Immediate Fianchetto)

3... Bg7Black · your move

Fianchetto your bishop to g7. This piece is the soul of your position, acting as a powerful defender of your king and a hidden attacker that can suddenly spring to life once the center opens up.

Other paths here: d5 (Grünfeld Defense) · c5 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 c5) · c6 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 c6) · d6 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 d6)

4. e4White

White seizes the full center with e4. This is the main line of the King's Indian. White could also choose quieter paths like Nf3 or g3, but e4 dares you to prove that your kingside pressure can compensate for their central dominance.

Other paths here: Bf4 (King's Indian: 4.Bf4) · Bg5 (King's Indian: 4.Bg5) · g3 (King's Indian: 4.g3) · Nf3 (King's Indian: 4.Nf3)

4... d6Black · your move

Move your pawn to d6. This essential move stops White from pushing e5 and harassing your knight. It also prepares for your own central counter-strike, usually involving the e5 or c5 pawn breaks later on.

Other paths here: O-O (King's Indian: 4.e4 O-O)

5. f3White

White plays f3, the Sämisch. This is a very aggressive system despite its solid appearance. Instead of the Classical Nf3 or the Averbakh Bg5, White chooses to build a rock-solid center and often intends to castle queenside and launch a direct attack.

Other paths here: Bg5 (King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation) · Nge2 (King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation) · Bd3 (King's Indian: 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3) · h3 (King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation)

5... O-OBlack · your move

Castle your king to safety. Now that the center is somewhat defined, you must secure your king before the real fighting begins. Your rook on f8 will also be ready to support a future f5 pawn break.

Other paths here: a6 (King's Indian: Saemisch, 5...a6) · c5 (King's Indian: Saemisch, 5...c5) · c6 (King's Indian: Saemisch, 5...c6) · e5 (King's Indian: Saemisch, 5...e5)

6. Be3White

White plays Be3, continuing their development. This is more common than the Kramer Variation with Nge2. White's plan is clear: build a battery on the d1-h5 diagonal, castle queenside, and use the f3 pawn as a hook for a kingside attack.

Other paths here: Nge2 (King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Bobotsov-Korchnoi-Petrosian Variation) · Bg5 (King's Indian Defense: Steiner Attack)

6... e5Black · your move

Push your pawn to e5. This is the Orthodox response, challenging White's center immediately. You are forcing White to decide whether to close the center with d5 or maintain the tension, which will dictate the flow of the game.

Other paths here: c5 (King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit) · a6 (King's Indian: Saemisch, 5...O-O 6.Be3 a6) · c6 (King's Indian: Saemisch, 5...O-O 6.Be3 c6) · Nbd7 (King's Indian: Saemisch, 5...O-O 6.Be3 Nbd7)

Where you stand

The position is now a classic Sämisch battleground. White must decide whether to close the center with d5 or keep it fluid. If the center closes, the game becomes a race: White will attack on the queenside while Black prepares the f5 break to hunt the White king. Both sides must be precise, as one slow move can lead to a crushing pawn storm.

• d1-d2 Form a battery to target h6
• f6-h5 Clear the f-pawn for f5 break
• e1-c1 Castle queenside for a kingside attack
• f7-f5 Challenge the center and open the f-file
• g2-g4 Launch a pawn storm against the king