Theoria
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Nimzo-Indian Defense

Sämisch Variation, Keres Variation

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  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nc3Bb4
  4. 4.f3d5
  5. 5.a3Bxc3+
  6. 6.bxc3c5
  7. 7.cxd5Nxd5
  8. 8.dxc5
91 games42%47%

A Sämisch Nimzo-Indian line, reached via 4. f3, in which White grabs a pawn with 8. dxc5 and accepts a badly fractured queenside pawn structure.

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About the Keres Variation

The Keres Variation is a branch of the Sämisch reached through the 4. f3 move order. After 4...d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5, White plays 8. dxc5, winning a pawn but leaving doubled, isolated c-pawns and a loose a-pawn. Black usually replies 8...Qa5, attacking the weakened pawns. The alternative 8...f5 is the Romanovsky Variation, and 8...O-O has fared badly. The engine rates the position as balanced, and Black scores well online.

Popular continuations