Starting from 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6, players enter the King's Indian Defence, Sämisch Variation: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... Nc6 — ECO E83. Across rating levels it shows up in 426,587 recorded games — enough data to map exactly where it succeeds and where it stalls.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the King's Indian Defence, Sämisch Variation: 0-0. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Florin Gheorghiu (19 games), Rainer Knaak (18 games), Jacob Murey (14 games). Black-side regulars include Heikki MJ Westerinen (42 games), Igor A Zaitsev (21 games), John D M Nunn (21 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
How well the King's Indian Defence, Sämisch Variation: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... Nc6 works depends on what level you're playing at. Among 1200-rated players, it appears in 0.00% of games — 2,242 of them on record — with White winning 53.3% and Black 44.1%. By 1800, popularity is 0.01% and White's score is 50.9% to Black's 44.9%. Among 2500-rated players the line appears in 0.04% of games and draws spike to 8.1%, indicating tight preparation. White's edge erodes by 6.1pp from 1200 to 2500 Elo, suggesting Black's counterplay is easier to find with experience.
Time Control Patterns
The King's Indian Defence, Sämisch Variation: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... Nc6 skews toward blitz chess. In bullet, it appears in 0.01% of games (238,789); White wins 50.8%. Blitz shows 0.01% adoption across 386,809 games, White scoring 50.2%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.00% — 38,905 games, White 50.5%.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
Looking at move selection shows how forcing — or not — the position really is. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is Qd2, played 44.6% of the time. There are 5 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 78% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.34. By 2500, Nge2 dominates at 67.2% of replies; only 2 viable alternatives remain and 97.7% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.20. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.
Historical Trends
Long-term, the trajectory of this opening is informative. Adoption peaked in 2017 at 0.01% (13,275 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.01% — a 16% shift overall, leaving the line in decline.
Main Lines and Variations
From the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6, the recognised continuations are:
Each branch leads to a different middlegame character — the resulting pawn structure decides what kind of game you get.
Common Mistakes
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 68.6% — versus 93.7% at 2000. The most popular deviation is d5 (played 20% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- Letting White own the centre — Hypermodern openings concede central space on purpose, but only if you strike back in time. Delay the counter-blow and you end up squeezed.
Practice on Chessiverse
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