A sampler for taking samples from a molten metal bath, particularly a molten steel bath, includes a sample chamber assembly having a cover plate and a housing. The housing has first and second openings for an inflow conduit and a gas coupler, respectively. The first face of the housing includes a distribution zone, an analysis zone and a ventilation zone. A depth of the analysis zone is greater than 1.5 mm and less than 3 mm. The cover plate and the housing assemble together to form a sample cavity. An analysis surface of a solidified steel sample formed within the sample cavity lies in a first plane. In a flow direction of the molten steel, there are no increases in a width dimension of the sample cavity and a ratio of the length to depth of the sample cavity increases.