E29 Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation
E29 holds two named lines, all under the name Nimzo-Indian Defense. It leaves E41 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System) with 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 O-O. Of all other reference positions, the board of E28 (Sämisch Variation) comes closest, six squares apart. White has doubled pawns; White also has one isolated pawn.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
| 4 | e3 | c5 |
| 5 | Bd3 | Nc6 |
| 6 | a3 | Bxc3+ |
| 7 | bxc3 | O-O |
Moves only E29 plays
Same as E41 up to 4...c5, then:
- 5.Bd3 The bishop leaves f1 for d3.
- 5...Nc6 The knight leaves b8 for c6, opening a line for the rook on a8.
- 6.a3 The a-pawn advances to a3, covering b4, opening a line for the rook on a1, attacking the bishop on b4.
- 6...Bxc3+ The bishop on b4 takes the knight on c3, giving check.
- 7.bxc3 The b-pawn takes the bishop on c3, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the bishop on c1.
- 7...O-O Black castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d8, guarding the pawn on g7.
Lines filed under E29
Both share their first 14 plies, the whole reference line.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | (the shared start itself) | 14 | Black castled |
| Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Capablanca Variation | 8.Ne2 b6 9.e4 Ne8 | 18 | Black castled |
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Capablanca Variation
- 8.Ne2 The knight leaves g1 for e2, opening a line for the rook on h1, guarding the pawn on c3.
- 8...b6 The b-pawn advances to b6, covering a5 and c5, opening a line for the bishop on c8.
- 9.e4 The e-pawn advances to e4, covering d5 and f5, opening a line for the bishop on c1.
- 9...Ne8 The knight goes from f6 to e8, opening a line for the queen on d8.
The road to E29
- 1.d4 … 3...Bb4four earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, E20
- 4.e3E40 Rubinstein System
- 4...c5E41 Rubinstein System
- 7...O-OE29
The position after 7...O-O
White has brought out the bishop on d3; Black the knight on c6 and knight on f6. White has a half-open b-file. White could capture with Bxh7+, dxc5. Undefended and attacked: the pawn on c5. White is to move and has 36 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| E49 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Botvinnik System | six squares: c5, d5, c6, c7, d7, b8 |
| E58 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense, Exchange Line | seven squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, f3, d5, d7 |
| E26 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | eight squares: f1, d3, c6, b8, e8, f8, g8, h8 |
| E27 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | eight squares: f1, e2, d3, e3, c5, c6, c7, b8 |
| E59 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense | eight squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, d3, f3, c4, d7 |
| E47 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation | nine squares: a2, b2, a3, c3, b4, c5, c6, c7 … |
| E46 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation | 11 squares: f1, a2, b2, a3, c3, d3, b4, c5 … |