The Sämisch variation is a powerful method to counter the popular King’s Indian Defence. The key move is the advance f2-f3, consolidating White’s central space advantage and limiting Black’s options for counterplay. In the traditional Sämisch White develops the queen’s bishop on e3 but in the modern version, as explored in this book, the move Bg5 is preferred. This creates further problems for Black as the natural King’s Indian counter ... e7-e5 allows White a potentially strong pin against the f6-knight, while chasing the bishop with ... h6 and ... g5 creates kingside weaknesses. • Learn to play the Modern Sämisch with confidence • Emphasis on plans and strategies• Written by an expert on the Modern Sämisch
I like Montany’s explanations because they are easy to follow and remember, and he did a good job for both sides. If your resolution for 2018 is to find a new weapon for fighting the KID and the Benoni, this is definitely the book for you! Good luck!
The Modern Sämisch is mostly geared towards competitive, highly-ranked players. Yet given that Montany spends ten pages explaining the first six moves at the outset of the book, as well as taking time to explain the underlying themes of the positions at hand throughout the book, The Modern Sämisch becomes accessible to players of any level. Though, of course, the lower down the spectrum you are, the harder you will have to work.
