Nimzo-Indian Defense, Sämisch Variation

The Sämisch Variation begins when White's a-pawn advances to a3 and attacks the bishop on b4. The characteristic continuation is for Black to capture the knight on c3 and White to recapture with the b-pawn. The result is visible: White keeps the bishop pair, both bishops, but has two pawns on the c-file.

Those pawns can become targets if they are fixed. They also control central squares and leave the b-file without a white pawn, which can help a rook become active. The position cannot be judged by counting defects alone; what matters is whether White can open the center and activate the bishops before Black organizes pressure.

Black attacks c4 and c3, strikes the center, and seeks good squares for the knights. The Kmoch Variation can reach similar structures, but it begins with the f-pawn to f3 to prepare e4; the Sämisch is defined by a3 on move four.