E89

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line

Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3

The Sämisch Variation features the aggressive f3, supporting the centre and preparing for a kingside pawn storm or positional play. It's one of the most critical tests of the King's Indian.

History & Notable Players

Named after Fritz Sämisch. It's been a favoured weapon against the KID at the highest levels.

Best Games

Karpov, Anatoly vs Kamsky, Gata1-0
Linares • 1993★ Notable
Botvinnik, Mikhail vs Tal, Mihail1/2-1/2
World Championship 23th • 1960★ Notable
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Kasparov, Gary1/2-1/2
Dos Hermanas • 1996
Piket, Jeroen vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1-0
Amber-rapid 5th • 1996
Timman, Jan H vs Kasparov, Gary1/2-1/2
Amsterdam VSB • 1996
Karpov, Anatoly vs Topalov, Veselin1-0
Varna rap m • 1995
Karpov, Anatoly vs Topalov, Veselin1/2-1/2
Varna rap m • 1995
Karpov, Anatoly vs Dolmatov, Sergey1-0
Dortmund • 1993
Spassky, Boris V vs Rodriguez, Amador1/2-1/2
Toluca Interzonal • 1982
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Geller, Efim P1/2-1/2
URS-ch44 • 1976
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Geller, Efim P0-1
AVRO • 1973
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Geller, Efim P1/2-1/2
URS-ch41 • 1973
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Petrosian, Tigran V1/2-1/2
URS-ch26 • 1959
Smyslov, Vassily vs Geller, Efim P0-1
URS-ch22 playoff-1pl • 1955
Karpov, Anatoly vs Patiutkin1-0
Voronezh simul • 1997
Karpov, Anatoly vs Kotronias, Vasilios1-0
Hellas rapid m • 1997
Piket, Jeroen vs Kasparov, Gary0-1
Amsterdam VSB • 1996
Arbakov, Valentin vs Kasparov, Gary0-1
PCA/Intel-GP • 1994
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Piket, Jeroen0-1
Monaco m • 1994
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Nijboer, Friso1/2-1/2
Groningen op • 1991

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