Exchange Variation with 5...exd6

With 5...exd6 Black opens the e-file and develops quickly: play revolves around the d4-pawn and White’s c4-c5 push.

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Nf3 O-O 8.Be2 Bg4 9.O-O Nc6 10.b3 Bf6 11.Be3 d5 12.c5 Nc8

Move by move

1.e4 – White occupies the centre and opens diagonals for the queen and the f1-bishop.
1...Nf6 – The Alekhine Defence: the knight attacks e4 and invites the pawn forward, planning to attack the advanced white pawns later.
2.e5 – White accepts the challenge: the pawn chases the knight and gains space.
2...Nd5 – The knight centralises on d5, from where it eyes c3, b4, e3 and f4.
3.d4 – White adds a second pawn to the centre and supports e5.
3...d6 – Black immediately attacks the e5 spearhead: the typical way to challenge White’s centre.
4.c4 – The pawn chases the d5-knight and gains more space: White builds a big centre.
4...Nb6 – The knight retreats to b6, from where it presses on c4 and d5.
5.exd6 – The Exchange Variation: White releases the tension, giving up the e5-pawn for simpler development.
5...exd6 – Black recaptures with the e-pawn: a symmetrical structure, an open e-file and easy development for the f8-bishop.
6.Nc3 – The knight develops and controls the central squares d5 and e4.
6...Be7 – The bishop develops on the open e-file and prepares castling.
7.Nf3 – The knight defends d4 and prepares Be2 and castling.
7...O-O – Black castles: with the e-file open, the rook can soon go to e8.
8.Be2 – White develops the bishop and covers the e-file before castling.
8...Bg4 – The bishop pins the f3-knight and adds indirect pressure on d4.
9.O-O – White castles, putting the king in safety and removing any pin on the e-file.
9...Nc6 – The knight develops and attacks d4: the g4-bishop and c6-knight work together against the centre.
10.b3 – White protects c4 with a pawn, so the b6-knight has no target and the queen stays free.
10...Bf6 – The bishop moves to f6 and attacks d4 for the third time, with ...Bxf3 in mind to remove a defender.
11.Be3 – The bishop defends d4 and completes White’s development.
11...d5 – Black hits c4 and fixes the centre: after cxd5 Black’s pieces regain the pawn with active play.
12.c5 – White advances with tempo on the b6-knight and gains queenside space.
12...Nc8 – The knight retreats to c8, but not for long: e7 is free and from there it heads for f5 against d4 and e3.

How to exploit the position

After c5 White has queenside space, but d4 is under pressure and Black has the open e-file and active pieces.

The c8-knight goes to e7 and then f5, where it attacks d4 and e3.
...Bxf3 at the right moment removes a defender of d4; then the f6-bishop and the c6-knight hit the pawn.
...Re8 occupies the open e-file and prepares ...Ne7-f5 with pressure on the e3-bishop.
...b6 undermines the c5-pawn; against White’s b4-b5 the c6-knight has the e7-square.

Exchange Variation with 5...exd6

Move by move

How to exploit the position

Master tips

The open e-file

The knight on c8

Model games