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Ponderchess / Nimzo-Indian Defense

Sämisch Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3. White spends a tempo to take the bishop pair at once, accepting doubled c-pawns for a broad centre and kingside chances.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3

Step through it in the Nimzo-Indian Defense explorer →

Key ideas

  • White's plan is f3 and e4, or e3, Bd3 and Ne2 followed by e4, building a big centre to support a kingside attack with f4 and f5. Black's plan is to fix the doubled pawns, especially the one on c4, and attack it.
  • The O'Kelly Variation, 5...c5 6.e3 b6, shows Black's standard set-up: ...b6, ...Ba6 and ...Nc6-a5 all pile up on c4, and ...Rc8 often joins in.
  • In the modern form White plays 4.f3 first. After 4...d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5, Black hits the centre before e4 can be played comfortably, and the play is sharp.
  • When White gets e4 and f4 in, Black's typical defensive ideas are retreating the knight from f6 to e8, which sidesteps e5 and the pin from Bg5, and the ...f5 break to stop White's pawns from rolling forward.

Plans for White

Build the centre with f3 and e4, or e3, Bd3, Ne2 and e4, and attack on the kingside with f4 and f5. The bishop pair needs open lines, so avoid closing the position on Black's terms.

Plans for Black

Target c4 with ...b6, ...Ba6, ...Nc6-a5 and ...Rc8, and keep the centre closed when White wants to open it. If White gets e4 and f4 in, be ready with ...f5 or a central break to blunt the attack.

For the wider picture, see the Nimzo-Indian Defense guide.

11 named lines of the Sämisch Variation