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Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...e6/3. Nc3/3...Bb4/4. a3

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< Chess Opening Theory‎ | 1. d4‎ | 1...Nf6‎ | 2. c4‎ | 2...e6‎ | 3. Nc3‎ | 3...Bb4
(Redirected from Chess/Sämisch Variation)
Sämisch Variation
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black pawnf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black bishopc4 white pawnd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 white pawnb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 black kingb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.a3
ECO code: E24-E29
Parent: Nimzo-Indian Defence

Nimzo-Indian Defence, Sämisch Variation

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Sämisch Variation

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This move can be seen as the critical test of the Nimzo-Indian; White is willing to spend a tempo to force Black to carry out his plan of neutralizing the c3-knight.

With 4.a3, the Sämisch named after the German Grandmaster Friedrich Sämisch, White immediately questions the placement of the bishop. This has the benefit of seizing the bishop pair early (if Black takes the knight), and resolving central tension. White will play for an eventual e4 push after f3.

Taking the Knight is forced as the alternatives are illogical or unsafe.

4...Bxc3+ inflicts the doubled pawns on White and is the main continuation.
4...Ba5?? Maintaining the pin is an error as it just loses the bishop after 5.b4 Bb6 6.c5.
Playing 4...Be7?! is better, but it defeats the point of the Nimzo-Indian since White gets to play 5.e4 for free. (The point of the 3...Bb4 pin was to prevent White from doing this easily.)

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.a3

4 5 6
a3
Bxc3+
bxc3
O-O
e3
c5
=
...
Be7?!
e4 +/=
...
Ba5??
b4
Bb6
c5 +/-

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References

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  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.