King's Indian: Sämisch 5...c6 6.Be3
King's Indian: Sämisch, 5...c6 6.Be3
Definition
The line arises from the King’s Indian Defence after the moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 c6 6.Be3.
• “Sämisch” refers to White’s early f2–f3, named after the German grandmaster Friedrich Sämisch (1896-1975).
• 5…c6 is Black’s “Panno set-up” re-routed: instead of the immediate …Nc6, Black first blunts the g1–a7 diagonal and prepares …a6 and …b5.
• 6.Be3 is White’s main reply, protecting d4, over-protecting c1–h6, and clearing Qd2 ideas.
Typical Move Order
Standard sequence:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.e4 d6
- 5.f3 c6 (Black defers …e5/…c5 to first halt any Ng1-f3 pressure and prepare …b5.)
- 6.Be3 (White adopts the classical Sämisch formation with Be3–Qd2–0-0-0.)
From here the branching paths usually include:
- 6…a6 7.Qd2 b5 — the most combative Panno plan.
- 6…Nbd7 7.Qd2 a6 — a flexible move order to avoid certain sidelines.
- 6…O-O — Black castles first, retaining the option of …e5 or …c5 later.
Strategic Ideas
For White
- Launch a pawn-storm on the kingside with g2-g4, h2-h4, and sometimes h4-h5.
- Exploit the space-gaining f3-e4 center to cramp Black’s minor pieces.
- Castle long (0-0-0) and aim rooks at the g- and h-files or the central files.
- Keep the d4-pawn secure; if it falls, the entire structure collapses.
For Black
- Counterplay on the queenside: …a6, …b5–b4, sometimes …c5, undermining White’s center.
- Exchange dark-squared bishops with …Bh6 to weaken the white king after 0-0-0.
- Break with …e5 when tactically justified, exploiting holes on d4 and f4.
- Keep an eye on the long diagonal a1–h8: after …b5 the Bg7 can become a monster.
Historical & Practical Significance
The 5…c6 version gained vogue in the 1960-70s when the classical main line 5…O-O 6.Be3 e5 was fiercely analyzed and sometimes considered dangerous for Black. Grandmasters such as Lev Polugaevsky, Gennadi Sosonko, and later Vassily Ivanchuk revitalized the Panno move order (…c6/…a6/…b5). In modern practice it remains a razor-sharp battleground, popular at every level, from club events to elite tournaments.
Illustrative Examples
1) Anand – Kasparov, Wijk aan Zee 1999 – Anand uncorked 10.h4!?, but Kasparov’s thematic …e5 break and piece play netted a quick queenside initiative and the point.
2) Nepomniachtchi – Giri, Candidates 2020 – Giri demonstrated a modern treatment with an early …Qa5, equalising comfortably and later taking over after White over-pressed.
Notable Theoretical Motifs
- Exchange Sacrifice on c3: Black can play …b4, …bxc3 and …Nxe4, sometimes giving up an exchange for the powerful bishop pair and central pawns.
- Pawn Roller d6-d5: In some lines Black breaks directly in the center with …d5, especially if White delays c4-c5.
- White’s h-pawn Launch: Plans with h2-h4-h5 are ubiquitous, seeking to pry open g- and h-files against the fianchetto king.
Interesting Facts
- The original “Panno” move order was 5…Nc6 (after 5.f3), but computers later showed 5…c6 to be even more flexible.
- In 1997 Kasparov prepared this line as Black vs. Deep Blue, but the computer sidestepped with a quiet d4-d5 instead.
- Magnus Carlsen employed 5…c6 successfully in rapid & blitz, favoring the dynamic imbalance over objectively equal positions.
- Engines often give “0.00” evaluations, yet OTB games between humans in this line still score well above 60 % decisive results due to the double-edged pawn storms.
Further Study
• Grandmaster Peter Svidler’s video series on the King’s Indian devotes an entire chapter to the 5…c6 Sämisch.
• Chessable courses by Boris Avrukh and Iossif Dorfman recommend 6.Be3 as White and explain the nuanced endgames that arise if both sides’ attacks fizzle out.