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King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−1.9%

Black isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −0.3% at 2500+
0-9992500+
Win%46.5%
Games138K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Time Control
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Does King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit keeps Black's wins running −1.9% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 138K Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstBlack WinDrawBlack LossGames
0-999−44.6%37.0%0.8%62.2%62
1000-1199−25.9%40.2%2.7%57.1%313
1200-1399−19.1%41.6%3.3%55.1%831
1400-1599−7.3%46.9%2.1%50.9%2.5K
1600-1799−4.4%47.3%3.0%49.7%7.1K
1800-1999−3.0%47.1%3.9%48.9%21K
2000-2199−3.0%46.4%5.1%48.6%43K
2200-2499−1.3%46.4%6.5%47.0%51K
2500+−0.3%46.4%8.5%45.1%11K
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 2500+, is −0.3%.

What is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit win rate?

Black wins 46.5% of King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit games, draws 5.5% and loses 47.9%. That rests on 138K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 2500+: −0.3%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid. For Black, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −1.3% in Blitz (71K games) and +2.5% in Rapid (6.8K games).

Does the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 1000-1199 in Bullet, 1000-1199 in Blitz, 1200-1399 in Rapid and 1800-1999 in Classical.

How sharp is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit?

The King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit is very sharp: 5.5% of its games are drawn, so 94.5% end with a winner.

Should I play the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit?

Not for the results: Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see.

How do I defend against the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit?

As White, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. Black does not come out ahead with it at any rating we can see.

How reliable is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit data?

This rests on 138K games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.