King's Indian: Saemisch Queen-Swap (5...O-O)

King’s Indian Defense – Sämisch Variation, 5...O-O 6.Be3 c5 “Queenswap”

Definition

The phrase refers to a particular branch of the King’s Indian Defense (KID) starting with the moves

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5.

Because many of the critical continuations involve an immediate dxc5 followed by Qxd8, the line is colloquially dubbed the “queen-swap” variation. It produces a queen-less middlegame, a rarity in most KID structures where opposite-side castling attacks often hinge on keeping the queens on the board.

Typical Move Orders

• Main point: After 6…c5 White is offered a choice:
  1. 7. Nge2 (the positional route, keeping tension), or
  2. 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 – the “queen-swap” that this sub-variation is famous for.
• If White refrains from trading queens, Black may still encourage it later with …cxd4, …Qxd4, or …Qa5 followed by …cxd4.

Strategic Themes

• White’s goals
  • Eliminate Black’s dynamic attacking potential by exchanging queens early.
  • Exploit the space-gaining e4–f3 pawn wedge in a calmer, positional setting.
  • Target the isolated or hanging pawns that can arise on c5 and d6.
• Black’s goals
  • Accept the queen trade but use the open d- and c-files for rook activity.
  • Pressure White’s dark squares (e5, d4) with the g7-bishop and knights.
  • Create a dynamic minor-piece imbalance: the bishop pair vs. White’s space.

Why It Matters

In most KID main lines Black counts on a late-middlegame king-side pawn storm (…f5, …g5) while White builds on the queen side. The queen-swap variation sidesteps those mutual assaults and drifts into a slower, more technical struggle.

This makes it popular for:

• White players who enjoy endgame-type positions and would rather not calculate the razor-sharp Mar del Plata or Classical lines.
• Black players who like piece activity and dynamic, queen-less positions reminiscent of the Grünfeld, without facing an enormous body of forcing theory.

Historical Notes

• Named for German master Friedrich Sämisch (1896-1975), who introduced 5.f3 against the Indian defenses as early as the late 1920s.
• The 6…c5 plan was pioneered in the 1950s by Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligorić, a renowned expert on the King’s Indian.
• World champions Tigran Petrosian and Garry Kasparov both adopted the variation to dampen Black’s typical attacking flair.

Example Game

The following instructive miniature shows the pure “queen-swap” structure:

White’s streamlined queenside play and grip on the dark squares eventually decide.

Typical Plans After the Swap

• For White
  1. Centralize rooks to d1 and e1.
  2. Block Black’s bishop with Nd5 or Nc7 (if possible) and clamp on dark squares.
  3. Advance a2-a4-a5 or b2-b4 to undermine the c5-pawn.
• For Black
  1. Plant a knight on d4 or b4 to pressure c2 and e2.
  2. Use the half-open d-file (…Rd4, …Be6) for counterplay.
  3. Seek pawn breaks …b5-b4 or …f5, depending on which side of the board offers more chances.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Because the queens come off so early, engines initially evaluated the line as “harmless” for Black. Modern engine practice, however, shows that White’s extra space can translate into a long-term squeeze.
• In the 1990 Linares super-tournament, GMs Kasparov and Gelfand debated this very line twice within the same week—each taking both colors—demonstrating its balanced nature.
• One of the first computer victories over a top human in a classical KID came in the queen-swap: Deep Thought – John Nunn, 1989. The machine exploited Black’s slightly loose queenside in an endgame; human grandmasters took that as a warning sign of engines’ growing positional strength.

When to Choose It

Select this variation if you:

• Prefer endgames and strategic manoeuvring to double-edged king hunts.
• Are a KID player facing well-prepared opponents; the early queen trade often jolts them out of booked-up territory.
• Want a surprise weapon that keeps theory manageable—critical lines usually diverge before move 10.