Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, O'Kelly Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3 b6
The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, O'Kelly Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO E26, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3 b6. It is a line of the Nimzo-Indian Defense. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 18 times by this move order. White won 28%, 16% were drawn and Black won 56%. The most popular continuation is 7. Bd3 (67% of games).
Engine evaluation: 0.00 (Stockfish, depth 48; best line 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. f3 O-O 9. Ne2 Nc6)
- ECO
- E26
- Moves
- 12 plies
- FEN
rnbqk2r/p2p1ppp/1p2pn2/2p5/2PP4/P1P1P3/5PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 0 7- PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3 b6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 6 | |
| 2000+ | 12 | |
| All | 18 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 7. Bd3 | 12 (67%) | |
| 7. Nf3 | 3 (17%) | |
| 7. Be2 | 1 (6%) | |
| 7. Qc2 | 1 (6%) | |
| 7. dxc5 | 1 (6%) |
Master games
133 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 36%, draw 18%, Black 46%). The strongest:
- GM Alireza Firouzja (2757) – GM Praggnanandhaa R (2758) 0-1 · Superbet POL Blitz 2025 · 2025-04-29
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2730) – GM Richard Rapport (2741) 1-0 · TechM GCL 2025 · 2025-12-15
- GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2739) – GM Chithambaram VR. Aravindh (2729) 1-0 · Chessable Play-In Match · 2025-02-17
- GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2729) – GM Quang Liem Le (2729) 0-1 · Titled Tue 23rd Sep 2025 · 2025-09-23
- GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2713) – GM Vincent Keymer (2700) 0-1 · Aimchess Rapid Prelim · 2022-10-17
Highest-rated Lichess games
- GM Hamisandwich (2664) – DiabloDiabloDiablo (2654) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- andy2342 (2602) – Alex_Muezersky (2640) 1-0 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 0s
- FM Lector118 (2541) – BCEMOGUSHII (2444) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (5… c5 6. e3) 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3
More Nimzo-Indian Defense lines (all)
- Nimzo-Indian Defense (3. Nc3 Bb4) E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Dilworth Gambit E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Kmoch Variation E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Mikenas Attack E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation (3… Bb4 4. g3) E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation (5… O-O 6. Bg2) E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Romanishin Variation, English Hybrid E20
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Euwe Variation E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Korchnoi Variation E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation, Shocron Gambit E21
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation E22
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.