King's Indian Sämisch Variation: Adviser, Diagrams and Replay Lab

The King's Indian Sämisch Variation is the f3 and Be3 system against the King's Indian Defence, usually after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3. Use the Sämisch Variation start diagram.

A standard move order is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3. Use the Sämisch Variation start diagram.

White plays 5.f3 to support e4, prepare Be3 and Qd2, and build a broad central and kingside attacking setup. Use the Sämisch Variation start diagram.

Yes. It is one of White's major systems against the King's Indian setup with ...Nf6, ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d6. Use the Branch Map to return to the King's Indian Defence page.

White usually builds a strong centre, develops Be3 and Qd2, and may castle queenside or attack with h4 and g4. Use the Adviser with side set to White.

Black tries to hit the centre before White's kingside or queenside attacking plan becomes stable, often with ...e5, ...c5, ...a6 or ...b5. Use the Adviser with side set to Black.

Yes. It can become very sharp because White's f3 supports expansion while Black has immediate counterbreaks. Use the Replay Lab.

Yes, because White's plan is clear, but club players must understand Black's ...e5, ...c5 and Panno-style counterplay. Use the diagram grid.

Black plays ...e5 to challenge White's central space and ask whether White will close with d5 or keep tension. Use the 6...e5 diagram.

After 7.d5, White gains space and Black often looks for ...Nh5, ...f5, ...c6 or queenside counterplay. Use the 7.d5 diagram.

...Nh5 attacks key dark squares, can head for f4, and supports kingside counterplay after White closes the centre. Use the ...Nh5 attack diagram.

...c5 attacks White's centre immediately and can lead to sharp Benoni-like or exchange structures. Use the ...c5 counter diagram.

White can take on c5 to clarify the centre and sometimes win a pawn temporarily, but Black often gains activity. Use the Replay Lab's ...c5 with dxc5 group.

The Panno-style setup uses ...Nc6, ...a6 and often ...Rb8 or ...b5 to hit White's queenside before the attack lands. Use the Panno-style ...a6 diagram.

...a6 and ...b5 create queenside counterplay against White's centre and possible long castling. Use the Panno-style ...a6 diagram.

White can play Bg5 to pin or disturb Black's development before committing to Be3/Qd2 structures. Use the Bg5 system diagram.

White should keep the centre stable while choosing between d5, Be3/Qd2, Nge2, h4, g4 or queenside castling. Use the Adviser with side set to White.

White should play d5 when closing the centre helps the attack or restricts Black's pieces, but it must be checked against ...Nh5 and ...f5. Use the 7.d5 diagram.

Nge2 supports g3 or Ng3, keeps the f-pawn protected, and often appears in both ...e5 and ...c5 systems. Use the Replay Lab's Nge2 groups.

White castles queenside when the centre is stable and Black's queenside counterplay has been slowed. Use the kingside pawn storm replay group.

White plays h4 to start a kingside pawn storm, stop ...h5 ideas, or create hooks against Black's king. Use the Replay Lab's long-castling and pawn-storm group.

Bg5 can provoke weaknesses, improve piece pressure, and delay Black's normal counterplay. Use the Bg5 system diagram.

White's biggest mistake is building a big centre but allowing Black's ...c5 or ...b5 counterplay to arrive with tempo. Use the Adviser with problem set to centre.

White should learn one ...e5 model, one ...c5 model, one Panno model and one attacking h4/Qd2 model. Use the Replay Lab optgroups.

Black should choose a coherent counter: ...e5 for central pressure, ...c5 for immediate challenge, or Panno-style ...a6/...b5 for queenside play. Use the Adviser with side set to Black.

Black plays ...e5 when they want to challenge White's centre before White's attack becomes organised. Use the 6...e5 diagram.

Black plays ...c5 when they want immediate structural pressure and are ready for dxc5 or d5 transitions. Use the ...c5 counter diagram.

Black plays ...Nh5 when the centre is closed and the knight can reach f4 or support kingside counterplay. Use the ...Nh5 attack diagram.

Black chooses the Panno setup when queenside counterplay with ...a6, ...Rb8 and ...b5 is more important than immediate central liquidation. Use the Panno-style ...a6 diagram.

Black may delay castling to keep White guessing and avoid walking into a prepared h4/g4 attack, but the centre must stay under control. Use the Replay Lab.

Black's biggest mistake is giving White time to play Be3, Qd2, O-O-O and h4 without creating counterplay. Use the Replay Lab's White-win examples.

Black should study one ...e5 game, one ...c5 game, one Panno game and one successful kingside or queenside counterattack. Use the Replay Lab.

Start with Karpov vs Kasparov for 6...e5 and 7.d5, then compare Karpov vs Ivanchuk or Wang Yue vs Radjabov for ...c5 structures. Use the Replay Lab selector.

Karpov vs Kasparov, Karpov vs Kasparov at Linares, Ponomariov vs Radjabov and Morozevich vs Grischuk show ...e5 or related centre structures. Use the 6...e5 replay groups.

Karpov vs Ivanchuk, Wang Yue vs Radjabov, Ponomariov vs Carlsen, Ponomariov vs Grischuk, Tomashevsky vs Ponomariov and Svidler vs Radjabov show ...c5 structures. Use the ...c5 replay groups.

Ivanchuk vs Kasparov, Ivanchuk vs Svidler, Caruana vs Svidler and Carlsen vs Grischuk show Bg5 systems. Use the Bg5 replay group.

Svidler vs Radjabov, Carlsen vs Grischuk and several ...a6/...b5 games show Panno-style queenside counterplay. Use the Panno-style replay group.

Karpov vs Kasparov, Karpov vs Ivanchuk, Ivanchuk vs Kasparov, Wang Yue vs Radjabov, Ponomariov vs Grischuk, Tomashevsky vs Ponomariov, Morozevich vs Kamsky and Carlsen vs Grischuk show White resources. Use the White-result replay groups.

Karpov vs Kasparov at Linares, Ponomariov vs Radjabov, Ponomariov vs Carlsen, Moiseenko vs Morozevich, Caruana vs Svidler and Ivanchuk vs Bacrot show Black resources. Use the Black-result replay groups.

No. Start with one ...e5 game, one ...c5 game, one Bg5 game and one Panno-style game. Use the Replay Lab optgroups.

White should play the Sämisch if they want a space-gaining King's Indian weapon with attacking chances and a clear f3/Be3 plan. Use the Adviser with side set to White.

Black should respect it, but the right counterbreak gives active play. Use the Adviser with side set to Black.

Often yes, because White's f3, Be3 and Qd2 setup supports direct attacking and long-castling ideas. Use the Branch Map to compare the Classical page.

Yes. The Panno is one of Black's major systems against the Sämisch, using ...Nc6, ...a6 and queenside counterplay. Use the Panno-style diagram.

Both grab space, but the Sämisch uses f3 for support while the Four Pawns Attack uses f4 for direct central expansion. Use the Branch Map.

Yes, because White's plans are direct and Black must react accurately. Use the Replay Lab's rapid and blitz examples.

After this page, study the Sämisch Gambit, Panno Variation, Classical Variation, Mar del Plata and Fianchetto pages. Use the Branch Map links.

Use one diagram to learn the structure, one Adviser recommendation to pick a plan, and one Replay Lab group to see that plan in action. Use the Adviser first.