Exchange Variation 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3
The Carlsen-style positional treatment: minority attack with ...b5-b4
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 Bg4 7.f3 Bh5 8.Bf4 Qd7
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White takes the center with the pawn and frees the Queen and the f1 Bishop. Against 1.e4 this course answers with the Caro-Kann, which prepares ...d5 without shutting in the c8 Bishop.
- 1...c6 – Caro-Kann Defense: the c6 pawn prepares ...d5 and supports it. Unlike the French, the c8 Bishop's diagonal stays open: it can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6.
- 2.d4 – White builds the e4-d4 center: Black has not attacked it yet and White gains space.
- 2...d5 – Black attacks e4 with the support of the c6 pawn: after exd5 it will recapture cxd5, keeping a pawn in the center. White chooses between e5, Nc3, exd5 and f3.
- 3.exd5 – White exchanges in the center: after the recapture it will choose between the Exchange Variation with Bd3 and the Panov Attack with c4.
- 3...cxd5 – Black recaptures with the c-pawn: the c-file opens and the d5 pawn stays in the center.
- 4.Bd3 – Exchange Variation: the Bishop controls f5 and hinders the natural development of the c8 Bishop; White prepares c3, Bf4 and positional play.
- 4...Nc6 – The Knight develops and attacks d4, which for now is defended only by the Queen.
- 5.c3 – White supports d4 with the pawn: it is the Queen's Gambit structure with colors reversed.
- 5...Qc7 – The Queen controls f4 and prevents Bf4, the ideal development of the c1 Bishop; it also aims at h2.
- 6.Ne2 – The Knight goes to e2, from where it supports the f4 square and leaves the f-pawn free.
- 6...Bg4 – The Bishop comes out and pins the e2 Knight against the d1 Queen.
- 7.f3 – White drives the Bishop away with the f-pawn, at the cost of weakening e3 and the g1-a7 diagonal.
- 7...Bh5 – The Bishop stays on the h5-d1 diagonal and can go to g6 to trade the d3 Bishop.
- 8.Bf4 – The Bishop completes development attacking the c7 Queen along the diagonal.
- 8...Qd7 – The Queen leaves the f4 Bishop's diagonal and stays ready to support ...Bg6 and ...e6.
How to exploit the position
Exchange structure with colors reversed: Black has the a7-b7 pawns against a2-b2-c3 and can use the minority attack; the h5 Bishop will go to g6 to trade the d3 Bishop.
- ...Bg6 trades the d3 Bishop, White's best piece.
- Minority attack: ...b5-b4 against c3 creates a weak pawn on White's queenside.
- ...e6, ...Bd6 and ...Nge7: the d6 Bishop contests the f4 Bishop and Black completes development.
Master tips
The minority attack
With two pawns against three on the queenside, Black pushes ...b5-b4 to create a weak pawn on c3 or d4.