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Nimzo-Indian, Samisch (E26)
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 c5 6 e3

Number of games in database: 636
Years covered: 1930 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 37.4%
   Black wins 36.5%
   Draws 26.1%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Laszlo Szabo  12 games
Boris Vladimirov  10 games
Svetozar Gligoric  8 games
O'Kelly  6 games
Hans Mueller  5 games
Borislav Ivkov  5 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
J Zhao vs D Xiu, 2011
Kasparov vs B Ivanovic, 1983
Keene vs H Ardiansyah, 1979
Geller vs Euwe, 1953
Spassky vs Tal, 1958
Geller vs Smyslov, 1956
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 page 1 of 26; games 1-25 of 636  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. L Rellstab vs K Pahl 1-0121930SwinemuendeE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
2. N Riumin vs Panov  1-0421934USSR Championship 1934/35E26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
3. H Silbermann vs Marshall 0-1271935Warsaw OlympiadE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
4. Stahlberg vs Keres 0-1271936Bad NauheimE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
5. R Cintron vs Marshall  ½-½441936San Juan InternationalE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
6. M E Goldstein vs J W Cornforth 1-0491937AUS-chE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
7. S Gotthilf vs V A Vasiliev  0-1491938Trade Unions ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
8. V Mikenas vs W Fairhurst 1-0301938Hastings 1937/38E26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
9. S Gotthilf vs D Rovner  ½-½321938Trade Unions ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
10. Koblents vs T Melngailis  0-14019387th Latvian congress group BE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
11. E Klein vs Euwe  0-1611939Hastings 1938/39E26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
12. Kotov vs Lisitsin 1-0331939USSR ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
13. M Castillo vs Eliskases  ½-½511939Buenos Aires Olympiad qual-2E26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
14. Lilienthal vs Smyslov 0-153193919th Ch MoscowE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
15. Bondarevsky vs Tolush  1-0231940Candidates-MastersE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
16. I Rudakovsky vs Lisitsin  0-1611940USSR ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
17. I Rudakovsky vs Kotov ½-½421940USSR ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
18. M Stolberg vs Lisitsin  0-1491940USSR ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
19. F Nuernberg vs H Mueller  0-1341941German ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
20. Reshevsky vs J Levin 1-0391942United States ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
21. Reshevsky vs Denker 1-0451942United States ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
22. J de Souza Mendes vs Eliskases  0-1381943quad CGPE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
23. A Batuev vs Kotov  0-1591944IvanovoE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
24. Reshevsky vs M Hamermesh  1-034194445th US OpenE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
25. Kotov vs Alatortsev ½-½831945USSR ChampionshipE26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch
 page 1 of 26; games 1-25 of 636  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-14-02
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: In this opening, White shows such a disdain for Black's strategy that he spends a tempo 4 a3 to force Black to carry it out!
Jan-14-02  Doctor Who: These games are mostly early deviations from theory. The real action is found in E27-E29... that's where you can see Samisch himself play the opening.
Feb-06-03  Spitecheck: LOL that's pretty funny Sneaky, atleast there is no pussyfooting around....White reacts to an early invasion on his side of the board: "Get off my land you devilish scoundrel". Black signifies his aggressive and warlike intentions by exchanging the first white piece to move in the game: "You move you die!"...... the first border skirmish results in blood, let the game begin.:)
Apr-18-03  refutor: i used to play this as white...it's as good as anything else, white is just getting the pawn structure sorted out as soon as possible. i used to play e3, followed by f3, Bd3 and e4 trying to build up a big center. i've played the nimzo as black and in my patzer opinion it's as good as anything else white can play
Apr-18-03  Bears092: I play the samisch as white, and the only real downside I see is that the Dark-Squared bishop has some trouble findind activity in the middlegame....
Nov-03-04  aw1988: "Git off my property!"
Apr-22-06  TIMER: <Sneaky> How did you do that magic trick, posting here 5 days before you became a member?

According to your profile you you did not become a member until Jan-19-02!

Apr-22-06  Jim Bartle: Why do you think he's called Sneaky?
Apr-22-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Benzol: He's got a time machine!
Apr-22-06  TIMER: <Benzol> I see, after all Doctor Who is suspiciously right below him!

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