Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation

The Orthodox Variation answers 6. Be3 with the traditional King's Indian thrust 6...e5. It contests d4 at once, instead of preparing ...c5 or waiting with ...Nc6. For a long time it was regarded as the main line of the Sämisch. It has gradually lost ground since 6...c5 came to be seen as Black's most ambitious option. Engines give White a slight edge, and White scores well in practice.

White must decide whether to maintain or release the central tension. The main continuation, 7. d5, gains space but offers Black a target, since 7...c6 undermines the advanced pawn. 7. Nge2 puts development first. Black can capture on d4 but often prefers moves that transpose back into d5 structures. 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 trades queens and leads to an equal, simplified position. The rarer 7. Qd2 has produced good results for Black. The Bronstein Variation is a forcing sideline: 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Qf2 Nxf1 11. Qxh4 Nxe3 12. Ke2 Nxc4. In it, Black gives up the queen for two bishops and two pawns.