Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. exd5/3...exd5

Exchange Variation
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN) rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/8/3p4/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR

Exchange Variation

After Black's natural response (exd5) there is a symmetric position on the board, and whatever kind of an advantage White hopes to get from their next moves - Black can usually attain that very same kind of an advantage in response - by simply copying White's moves.
Although this variation has a reputation of being dull and drawish, both - White and Black players - have found ways to unbalance the game.
This is namely done by White if they choose to play with an isolated d-pawn in exchange for some space advantage, in which case White can play 4.c4.
The traditional approach, however, is rapid development by playing moves like 4.Bd3, 4.Nf3 or - in case White prefers castling to the queenside - 4.Be3.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5
	4	5
Classical Variation	Bd3 Bd6	Nf3 Nf6	=
Variation c4	c4 Nf6	Nc3 Be7	=
Variation Nf3	Nf3 Nf6	Bd3 Be7	=
Variation Be3	Be3 Nf6	Qd3 Be7	=

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References

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

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