Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (3… Bb4 4. a3)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3
The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO E24, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3. It is a line of the Nimzo-Indian Defense. Black is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 2,616 times by this move order. White won 48%, 5% were drawn and Black won 47%. The most popular continuation is 4… Bxc3+ (97% of games).
Engine evaluation: −0.11 (Stockfish, depth 46; best line 4… Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Nc6 6. f3 b6 7. e4)
- ECO
- E24
- Moves
- 7 plies
- FEN
rnbqk2r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/1bPP4/P1N5/1P2PPPP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - 0 4- PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 367 | |
| 1500-1999 | 1,414 | |
| 2000+ | 835 | |
| All | 2,616 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 4… Bxc3+ | 2,535 (97%) | |
| 4… Be7 | 49 (2%) | |
| 4… Ba5 | 21 (1%) | |
| 4… O-O | 4 (0%) | |
| 4… Bd6 | 2 (0%) | |
| 4… b6 | 2 (0%) | |
| 4… c5 | 1 (0%) | |
| 4… Nc6 | 1 (0%) |
Master games
2,161 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 41%, draw 17%, Black 42%). The strongest:
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2861) – GM Liren Ding (2805) 1/2-1/2 · Lindores Abbey Stars · 2019-05-25
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2882) – GM Levon Aronian (2765) 1/2-1/2 · Saint Louis Blitz 2019 · 2019-08-14
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2855) – GM Levon Aronian (2782) 0-1 · Meltwater Tour Final 2021 · 2021-10-03
- GM Alireza Firouzja (2767) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2832) 0-1 · SpeedChess Final 2024 · 2024-09-08
- GM Fabiano Caruana (2792) – GM So, W. (2765) 0-1 · 13th Sinquefield Cup · 2026-08-12
Search all games of the Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- tractorchampion001 (2748) – kuhmft (2878) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 0s
- tractorchampion001 (2765) – IM Hripach007 (2653) 0-1 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 2s
- Akula_Krakula (2622) – AyaSen77 (2775) 0-1 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Nimzo-Indian Defense (3. Nc3 Bb4) 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
Continuations
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (5. bxc3 O-O) E27 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 O-O
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation (5… c5 6. e3) E26 · 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: 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
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Spielmann Variation, Carlsbad Variation E23
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.