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

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Exchange Variation
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black pawnf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 white pawne5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3P4/3P4/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR b

Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5

Exchange Variation

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This is the Exchange Variation of the French Defence. Up until the mid-19th century this was regarded as the main line of the French Defence. The Exchange Variation is a dull, drawish, and static opening, prompting Wilhelm Steinitz to write, "I have never in my life played the French Defense, which is among the dullest of openings." It was only around the 1860s and 1870s that the variations arising after 3.Nc3, 3.Nd2, and 3.e5 became popular.

The Exchange Variation leads to a symmetrical pawn structure. Both sides often develop symmetrically, while giving no room for imbalance in the game, which is why the opening is so drawish. Players who want a draw only will often employ the Exchange Variation.

Theory table

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

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5
3
1 ...
exd5		 =

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References

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Wikipedia has related information at French Defence

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