Chess opening · ECO E80
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
5.f3 adds to White's pawn center in the Sämisch Variation. The f-pawn backs up e4 with a pawn, and it keeps the f6 knight and the c8 bishop out of g4. That lets White play Be3 and Qd2 without being harassed, then choose between castling long with a kingside pawn storm or a calmer plan with the king on g1.
- Rank by weighted share
- #139 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3
- 4. e4White takes the full center with pawns on c4, d4 and e4. Black does not contest it yet, trusting the g7 bishop and later pawn breaks to put that center under pressure.
- 5. f3The pawn on f3 supports e4 and takes g4 away from the f6 knight and the c8 bishop. It can also back up a later g2-g4 push. The downside is that the g1 knight loses its usual f3 square and has to develop to e2 instead.
The Be3, Qd2 battery
With f3 in place, White can put the bishop on e3 and the queen on d2 without fearing ...Ng4. Those two pieces aim at h6, so Bh6 can trade off Black's g7 bishop, the main defender of the dark squares around the black king.
If White castles queenside, a kingside storm with g4 and h4 follows naturally. The pawns on f3, g4 and h4 move forward together and try to open the h-file.
How Black meets the clamp
Black can strike in the center with ...e5, and after d5 play ...f5 or ...c6. Another plan is ...Nc6 with ...a6, ...Rb8 and ...b5, opening the queenside where White's king may be heading. A third is ...c5, offering a pawn in some lines to pry open the dark squares for the g7 bishop.
Closed center, opposite plans
5... O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 f5 9. O-O-O
White locks the center with d5 and castles long. Black has moved the f6 knight to h5 so the f-pawn can advance. Now White pushes on the kingside with g4 ideas, and Black looks for play with ...f4 or by opening lines toward c1.
Top replies by rating
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400–1599 | O-O 91% | Nbd7 9% | – |
| 1600–1799 | O-O 86% | Nbd7 9% | Nc6 3% |
| 1800–1999 | O-O 91% | Nc6 3% | c6 2% |
| 2000 and up | O-O 89% | c6 7% | Nbd7 5% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.