The Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit Accepted is a variation of the King's Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E81. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5, reaching the position shown below after 17 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after nine moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; the d-file file is fully open.
On the King's Indian Defense generally: A hypermodern defense where Black allows White to build a big center, then counterattacks it.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 112 King's Indian Defense variations →
The Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit Accepted goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5. It is a variation of the King's Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E81.
The Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit Accepted is ECO E81. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 at +0.28 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; the d-file file is fully open.