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

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	=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

]