E27 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
E27 holds a single named line. It leaves E24, a position of the same name, with 4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 O-O. Black’s pieces and pawns attack two squares in White’s half, level for the fewest of the 40 Nimzo-Indian Defense codes. Of all other reference positions, the board of E28 (Sämisch Variation) comes closest, two squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | a3 | Bxc3+ |
| 5 | bxc3 | O-O |
Moves only E27 plays
Same as E26 up to 5.bxc3, then:
- 5...O-O Black castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d8, guarding the pawn on g7.
The road to E27
- 1.d4 … 3.Nc3three earlier stops: A40, A45, A50
- 3...Bb4E20 Nimzo-Indian Defense
- 4.a3E24 Sämisch Variation
- 5...O-OE27
The position after 5...O-O
Black has brought out the knight on f6; White has not yet moved a knight or bishop. White has a half-open b-file. White is to move and has 27 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E49 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System | six squares: f1, e2, d3, e3, d5, d7 |
| E46 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation | seven squares: a2, b2, e2, a3, c3, e3, b4 |
| E29 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | eight squares: f1, e2, d3, e3, c5, c6, c7, b8 |
| E20 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | nine squares: a2, b2, a3, c3, b4, e8, f8, g8 … |
| E47 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation | nine squares: f1, a2, b2, e2, a3, c3, d3, e3 … |
| E50 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | nine squares: g1, a2, b2, e2, a3, c3, e3, f3 … |
| A17 | English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System | ten squares: a2, b2, d2, a3, c3, d4, e8, f8 … |