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King's Indian: Samisch Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 · E80–E89

Part of King's Indian Defense

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 16

f3 supports e4 but displaces the knight

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The idea

White supports e4 with f3, then develops Be3 and Qd2. Queenside castling and a kingside pawn attack are options, not obligations.

Main line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Qd2 f5

What White wants

  • Develop Be3 and Qd2, choosing a castling side according to the centre
  • If castling long, prepare kingside play with g4 and h4
  • Use central space without leaving the king in an opening centre

What Black wants

  • Challenge the centre with ...e5 or ...c5 and assess the white king's destination
  • Seek queenside counterplay with ...c5 and ...b5 if White castles long
  • Use ...f5 and ...f4 to gain space or displace Be3 when appropriate

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

f3 supports e4 but displaces the knight

The f3 pawn supports e4 and frees the bishop to develop to e3, but occupies the knight's usual square. White often develops that knight to e2. The pawn setup permits several king arrangements; queenside castling requires checking Black's counterplay there.

Common mistake

Castling long automatically when Black is ready to open queenside files. g4 does not remove pawn cover from a king on c1, but ...c5 or ...b5 may threaten that king. Check the centre and queenside before committing.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

rnbq1rk1/ppp3bp/3p2p1/3Ppp1n/2P1P3/2N1BP2/PP1Q2PP/R3KBNR w KQ - 0 9

Analyze this position

Related openings

King's Indian Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 · E60–E99Black lets White build a huge centre and then attacks it with a kingside pawn storm — the most combative defence to 1.d4 in existence.King's Indian: Classical Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 · E91–E99The main line: White develops quietly with Be2 and castles, Black fixes the centre with ...e5, and both sides then attack on opposite wings.King's Indian: Four Pawns Attack1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 · E76–E79White throws all four central pawns forward to smother Black's position — the sharpest and most double-edged way to meet the King's Indian.King's Indian: Fianchetto Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 · E60–E69White answers the King's Indian with g3 and Bg2, strengthening the kingside and developing a bishop before deciding how far to expand the centre.