Alekhine: Sämisch Attack, 3...Nxc3 4.dxc3
Alekhine: Sämisch Attack, 3…Nxc3 4.dxc3
Definition
The name refers to a branch of Alekhine’s Defence that begins 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3, in which Black immediately exchanges the advanced d5-knight for White’s c3-knight with 3…Nxc3. After the natural recapture 4.dxc3 we reach the characteristic tabiya of the line:
White accepts doubled c-pawns and a slightly damaged queenside structure in exchange for the bishop pair and a full grip on the centre, while Black removes the troublesome knight outpost on d5 and strives for …d6, …g6 and …Bg7 or the immediate …d5 break.
Typical Move Order
- 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3 4.dxc3 d6 (main table-setting move)
- Black can also delay …d6 with 4…d5!? when play may transpose to French-like structures.
Strategic Themes
- The bishop pair. After 4.dxc3 White’s light-squared bishop often emerges on f4 or g5, and the dark-squared bishop eyes the a2–g8 diagonal; together they can become powerful in an open middlegame.
- Doubled c-pawns. White’s pawns on c2 & c3 are static weaknesses, but they support a future c4 break and open the d-file for rooks and the queen.
- Central pawn roller vs. pawn targets. White aims for c4–f4–f5 or even e6 thrusts; Black tries to prove the c-pawns are an enduring liability by manoeuvring pieces toward the queenside.
- Flexibility for Black. Because Black has exchanged a developed piece and avoided early commitments, setups with …g6–…Bg7 (King’s-Indian style) or …e6–…d6–…Be7 are both possible.
Historical Notes
• The line is named for German grandmaster Friedrich Sämisch, an
inveterate experimenter who employed 3.Nc3 against Alexander Alekhine in
several exhibition and tournament games during the early 1920s.
• Although never a mainstay at world-championship level, the variation
enjoyed sporadic revivals – for example in the 1980s when Anatoly
Karpov tried it in simultaneous displays to steer play into quieter
waters.
• Modern engines evaluate the position after 4.dxc3 as roughly equal,
making it a practical weapon for players who prefer strategic middlegames
over heavy theory.
Model Game
Sämisch demonstrates the attacking potential the bishop pair and half-open d-file can generate when Black is careless.
Practical Tips
- For White: Do not rush to castle kingside; sometimes long castling followed by kingside pawn storms (h4–h5 or f4–f5) is more effective.
- For Black: Timely counterplay with …d6–…d5 or …f6 challenges White’s pawn wedge and releases your light-squared bishop.
- Both sides should watch the weak c-pawns (for White) and the potentially backward d-pawn (for Black after …d6) when planning pawn breaks.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The structure after 4.dxc3 can resemble certain Exchange French positions – an ironic twist since the Alekhine was originally designed to avoid the French Defence!
- Fritz 5.32, an early consumer chess engine, consistently preferred 3…Nxc3 over the more popular 3…e6 when run on 1990s hardware, prompting a brief renaissance of the line in correspondence chess.
- Because theoretical attention has long centred on the Four-Pawns and Modern Variations, many club players are caught off-guard by 3…Nxc3 – making it a handy surprise weapon.
Summary
Alekhine: Sämisch Attack, 3…Nxc3 4.dxc3 is a strategically rich, comparatively low-theory sub-line of Alekhine’s Defence. White trades a sound structure for dynamic piece play; Black eliminates the most aggressive minor piece and aims to undermine the pawn centre. Mastering its typical middlegame plans can add an attractive, off-beat option to any 1…Nf6 practitioner’s repertoire.