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  3. /King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (E80)
E80

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation

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.

Top Players in this Opening

Spassky, Boris V10 gamesKamsky,G9 gamesBronstein, David I9 gamesPetrosian, Tigran V7 gamesNajdorf, Miguel5 gamesRapport,R5 gamesPortisch, Lajos4 gamesJussupow, Artur4 gamesLarsen, Bent4 gamesTimman, Jan H4 games

Related Openings

E81 - King's Indian Defense: Steiner Attack392E82 - King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Double Fianchetto45E83 - King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Yates Defense51E84 - King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Panno Main Line70E85 - King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation43E86 - King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation55E87 - King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation65E88 - E8858E89 - King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line44

Best Games

Jussupow, Artur vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
Linares 1983Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Lombardy, William James1-0
WchT U26 1957Notable
Duda,J vs Rapport,R1-0
Aimchess Rapid Prelim 2022
Ivanchuk,V vs Kamsky,G1-0
Kamsky-Ivanchuk Blitz m 2020
Spassky, Boris V vs Fischer, Robert James1/2-1/2
St Stefan/Belgrade m 1992
Miles, Anthony J vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
Linares 1985
Portisch, Lajos vs Torre, Eugenio0-1
Rio de Janeiro Interzonal 1979
Larsen, Bent vs Byrne, Robert E0-1
Leningrad Interzonal 1973
Bronstein, David I vs Evans, Larry Melvyn1-0
Amsterdam Interzonal 1964
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Najdorf, Miguel1-0
Bled 1961
Bronstein, David I vs Benko, Pal C1/2-1/2
Portoroz Interzonal 1958
Spassky, Boris V vs Tal, Mihail1-0
URS-ch23 1956
Spassky, Boris V vs Bronstein, David I1-0
Candidats Tournament 1956
Aronian,L vs Napoli,N1-0
Titled Tue 4th Feb Early 2025
Goryachkina,A vs Radjabov,T1-0
Crocus City Stars Blitz 2023
So,W vs Makarian,Rudik1-0
Titled Tue 5th Jul Late 2022
Iniyan,P vs Kamsky,G0-1
Chess.com RCC Wk15 Swiss 2022
Tang,Andrew vs Kamsky,G1-0
Titled Tuesday 21st Sept 2021
Tang,Keran vs Kamsky,G1-0
Gran Canaria Online Blitz 2021
Florescu,C vs Kamsky,G1/2-1/2
Titled Tuesday 2nd Feb 2021

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