The Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E25. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5, reaching the position shown below after 15 half-moves.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at one minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after eight moves. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s c- and a-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair.
On the Nimzo-Indian Defense generally: One of the most respected defenses to 1.d4. Black pins the knight and fights for central control.
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The Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5. It is a variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E25.
The Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation is ECO E25. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 at +0.32 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.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at one minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s c- and a-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair.