Chess Openings Lab
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King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation

The Sämisch Variation is 5.f3, a pawn move that supports e4 and keeps Black's knight off g4. White wants Be3, Qd2 and sometimes a kingside pawn storm with g4 and h4, while Black counterattacks with ...c5, ...b5 or ...e5.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3
ECO
E80, E86
Engine
+0.27 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,058 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Follow with Be3, Qd2 and Nge2; the f3 pawn makes e4 rock solid.
  • Castle long and push g4 and h4 if Black castles short, aiming for a kingside attack.
  • Answer ...c5 with d5 or dxc5; after the queen trade, f4 and e5 gain space.
  • Watch the dark squares around the king: f3 has weakened e3 and g3.

Black

  • Castle and play ...c5, the top engine line, hitting d4 before White develops.
  • ...a6 and ...b5 open the queenside files, which hurts most if White's king goes to c1.
  • ...Nc6 and ...e5 are another way to fight for the dark squares.
  • Use ...Ne5 after d5, putting the knight on a strong central square.

Plans and pawn structure

The f3 pawn gives White a solid center and stops ...Ng4, but it takes f3 from the g1 knight, so it goes to e2. White often castles long and storms with g4 and h4. Black's counterplay comes from ...c5 or ...b5 opening queenside lines, or ...e5 with dark-square play. Speed matters: whoever opens lines against the enemy king first gets the edge.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.27: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.27 5...O-O 6.Nge2 c5 7.Be3 Nc6 8.d5
  2. +0.45 5...c5 6.dxc5 dxc5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.f4
  3. +0.52 5...a6 6.Be3 O-O 7.Nge2 b5 8.Qd2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,058 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.8%.

1200–159953.8%
1600–199951.8%
2000 and up52.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, do not wait: castle and hit the center with ...c5 or prepare ...b5. Avoid slow knight moves that give White time for g4 and h4. As White, finish Be3, Qd2 and Nge2 before committing the king, and meet ...c5 with d5 to keep space.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 c6.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation?

The King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3. Its ECO code is E80, E86.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.27 at depth 20, which is level. In 2,058 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.8%. A sharp choice for White players who like kingside attacks, and Black needs quick counterplay in the center or on the queenside.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation?

White plays f3 to support e4 and stop ...Ng4, then builds Be3 and Qd2 for a possible long-castle attack. Black hits back with ...c5, ...b5 or ...e5 to open lines.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is O-O, with c5 and a6 close behind. Castling first lets Black react to White's setup with ...c5 or ...e5 once Nge2 or Be3 is played.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.