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Opening variations go in and out of fashion on a regular basis -- just the nature of things. It is interesting how the changes in chess taste can alter our view of specific lines. One line that seems to be immune to such change is the Sämisch Kings Indian. This is not because it is beyond the travails of chess understanding; rather, it is because chess players are highly opinionated. Yes, the world is divided into three parts: those who swear the Sämisch is a treasure to play, those who think the Sämisch is a lot of wind, and finally, the players who are not involved on either side at all. Rarely can the chess population be divided so succinctly. The Sämisch Kings Indian Uncovered is the latest look at this controversial line. After the standard moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0
The authors look at 5.Be3 e5 in two chapters. Lines after 6.d5 have been keen stuff for White players almost since the inception of the line because the standard recipe of Qd2, Bh6, h4-h5 is easy to follow. It has worked to bring many players to the White side. Black does get to have some ideas about this, and the consequence is that alternate plans after 6.d5 for White to work on the Q-side have proven more strenuous for Black. So, it is curious that some players of the white pieces have backed up a move and kept the d-pawn on d4, playing Nge2, a line examined in Chapter Two. Any of these approaches has strong points for White and has pushed many KI advocates to try other methods for quicker counter play. The Sämisch Panno after 6.Be3 Nc6 is considered in the third chapter. This line has been very popular at higher levels, as the quick development that it affords Black offers plenty of chances. As with the Classical 6... e5 lines, the Panno has been addressed by alternate schemes from White, notably by schemes involving White Q-side expansion or a simple plan to play with the space advantage after holding the d4 point. Lines featuring attempts at a more defined Q-side advance for Black are considered in the next chapter. Of these lines the plan of ...c6 / ...a6 / ...b5 is possibly the most respected by theory, basically because these lines lack some flexibility. To that end, a simple 6... a6 has been suggested as a way for Black to see White's direction and take his cue from that. This leads us to Chapter Five, covering the Sämisch Gambit 6...c5. On principle this should be an extremely good line, which it is, but it took a while for some of the specifics to be worked out for Black. The activity generated after accepting the gambit seems to prevent a clear plan of play for White to enjoy the extra pawn, leading higher-level Whites to seek a different battleground by pushing d4-d5. That is the next chapter, which is more likely a Benoni than Kings Indian. Logically following are chapters devoted to the Sämisch Benoni with 6.Bg5 or Nge2, and then those same ideas without c5. This sequence of chapters shows the diversity of ideas for either side in this variation, as well as being a skeleton of the history of the line. The format of The Sämisch Kings Indian Uncovered is a cross between a repertoire book and an update volume. The emphasis is on White's resources against Black's strongest or most common defenses. Fifty main games form the heart of the book, with plenty more in the notes. I find it interesting that the currently main Black line, the Samish Gambit, has two chapters that take up the least amount of space. My feeling is that because the authors find the Black activity too strong, they are navigating White players away from it. The book is in figurine algebraic notation and Everyman has done its usual good job of making the pages clear, the covers interesting and the binding strong. A book aimed at making a clear introduction to the Sämisch is likely to get stuck on the Gambit line as it is a very principled challenge to the Sämisch that is not easily catered to. Instead, a book bearing the newest concepts or ideas in the line finds itself backtracking to the more standard motifs of the Classical lines as that is very much the meat which Sämisch players look for. This is a
quandary that I think the authors came across when writing this book. I can
recommend it to players who desire to make the Sämisch their main weapon or
who want an update on lines, especially with 6.Bg5 or Nge2. Otherwise, this
book is best left for the public library. From the Publisher's website: Alexander Cherniaev is a Russian Grandmaster, journalist and author who has been based in London for many years. He’s a very experienced player and has enjoyed numerous tournament successes, including winning the silver medal at the Moscow Championship and competing in the prestigious Hastings Premier Tournament. He has written two chess biographies: 'David Janowski: Artist of the Chess Board' and 'Harry Nelson Pillsbury: A Genius ahead of his Time.' Eduard Prokuronov is a FIDE Master and a many-time Champion of the Arkhangelsk region of Russia.
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