Exchange variation
Encyclopedia
In chess
, an exchange variation is a type of opening
in which there is an early, voluntary exchange of pawns or pieces. Such variations are often quieter than other lines because the early release of tension minimizes the possibility of surprise tactics or sharp, forcing lines, particularly where it results in a symmetrical pawn structure
. White
may choose an exchange variation as a relatively risk-free way to try to exploit White's first-move advantage
. Players such as Mikhail Botvinnik
and Yasser Seirawan used the Exchange Variation of the Slav Defense
this way.
White may also play an exchange variation in an effort to draw the game. This approach is not without risks. International Master John L. Watson
has written that in the Exchange Variation of the French Defense, "Black can always make the struggle an unbalanced one if he chooses". Moreover, playing so blatantly for a draw may place a psychological burden on White: "White has already ceded the advantage of the first move, and he knows it, whereas Black is challenged to find ways to seize the initiative."
Not all exchange variations are quiet; the Exchange Variation of the Grunfeld Defense
is regarded as one of White's sharpest and most aggressive options, since it allows White to build up a massive pawn center, which Black will try to undermine. The Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined
often involves attacks by one or both sides on the enemy king.
Exchange variations involving the exchange of pawns often lead to symmetrical central pawn structures, as in the Slav Defense and the French Defense, among others. The resulting pawn structures may also be asymmetrical, as in the Caro-Kann Defense
and Queen's Gambit Declined. In the Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation
pieces (White's bishop and Black's knight) rather than pawns are traded. In the Exchange Variation of the Grunfeld Defense
, both a pair of pawns and a pair of knights are traded.
The diagram at right shows a position in the Exchange Variation of the French Defense, after the moves:
The position is completely symmetrical and White's advantage is limited to his right to move. The Exchange French is usually regarded as a passive alternative selected by a White player eager for a draw, but Paul Morphy
and more recently Garry Kasparov
have used it as a winning try.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
, an exchange variation is a type of opening
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
in which there is an early, voluntary exchange of pawns or pieces. Such variations are often quieter than other lines because the early release of tension minimizes the possibility of surprise tactics or sharp, forcing lines, particularly where it results in a symmetrical pawn structure
Pawn structure
In chess, the pawn structure is the configuration of pawns on the chessboard. Since pawns are the least mobile of the chess pieces, the pawn structure is relatively static and thus largely determines the strategic nature of the position.-General observations:Weaknesses in the pawn structure, such...
. White
White and Black in chess
In chess, the player who moves first is referred to as "White" and the player who moves second is referred to as "Black". Similarly, the pieces that each conducts are called, respectively, "the white pieces" and "the black pieces". The pieces are often not literally white and black, but some...
may choose an exchange variation as a relatively risk-free way to try to exploit White's first-move advantage
First-move advantage in chess
The first-move advantage in chess is the inherent advantage of the player who makes the first move in chess. Chess players and theorists generally agree that White begins the game with some advantage. Statistics compiled since 1851 support this view, showing that White consistently wins slightly...
. Players such as Mikhail Botvinnik
Mikhail Botvinnik
Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik, Ph.D. was a Soviet and Russian International Grandmaster and three-time World Chess Champion. Working as an electrical engineer and computer scientist at the same time, he was one of the very few famous chess players who achieved distinction in another career while...
and Yasser Seirawan used the Exchange Variation of the Slav Defense
Slav Defense
The Slav Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Slav is one of the primary defenses to the Queen's Gambit. Although it was analyzed as early as 1590, it was not until the 1920s that it started to be explored extensively...
this way.
White may also play an exchange variation in an effort to draw the game. This approach is not without risks. International Master John L. Watson
John L. Watson
John Leonard Watson is a chess International Master and author.Watson was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. He was educated at Brownell-Talbot, Harvard, and the University of California at San Diego, where he took his degree in engineering...
has written that in the Exchange Variation of the French Defense, "Black can always make the struggle an unbalanced one if he chooses". Moreover, playing so blatantly for a draw may place a psychological burden on White: "White has already ceded the advantage of the first move, and he knows it, whereas Black is challenged to find ways to seize the initiative."
Not all exchange variations are quiet; the Exchange Variation of the Grunfeld Defense
Grünfeld Defence
The Grünfeld Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The first instance of this opening is in an 1855 game by Moheschunder Bannerjee, an Indian player who had transitioned from Indian chess rules, playing black against John Cochrane in Calcutta, in May 1855: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4...
is regarded as one of White's sharpest and most aggressive options, since it allows White to build up a massive pawn center, which Black will try to undermine. The Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined
Queen's Gambit Declined
The Queen's Gambit Declined is a chess opening in which Black declines a pawn offered by White in the Queen's Gambit:This is known as the Orthodox Line of the Queen's Gambit Declined...
often involves attacks by one or both sides on the enemy king.
Exchange variations involving the exchange of pawns often lead to symmetrical central pawn structures, as in the Slav Defense and the French Defense, among others. The resulting pawn structures may also be asymmetrical, as in the Caro-Kann Defense
Caro-Kann Defence
The Caro-Kann Defence is a chess opening —a common defense against the King's Pawn Opening characterised by the moves:The usual continuation isfollowed by 3.Nc3 , 3.Nd2 , 3.exd5 , or 3.e5 . The classical variation has gained much popularity...
and Queen's Gambit Declined. In the Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation
Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation
The Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation is a variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening that begins with the moves:-ECO codes:There are two ECO classifications for the Exchange Variation. ECO code C68 covers 4...dxc6, with White's response of 5.d4 or 5.Nc3 to either capture...
pieces (White's bishop and Black's knight) rather than pawns are traded. In the Exchange Variation of the Grunfeld Defense
Grünfeld Defence
The Grünfeld Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The first instance of this opening is in an 1855 game by Moheschunder Bannerjee, an Indian player who had transitioned from Indian chess rules, playing black against John Cochrane in Calcutta, in May 1855: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4...
, both a pair of pawns and a pair of knights are traded.
The diagram at right shows a position in the Exchange Variation of the French Defense, after the moves:
- 1.e4 e6
- 2.d4 d5
- 3.exd5 exd5
The position is completely symmetrical and White's advantage is limited to his right to move. The Exchange French is usually regarded as a passive alternative selected by a White player eager for a draw, but Paul Morphy
Paul Morphy
Paul Charles Morphy was an American chess player. He is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess Champion. He was a chess prodigy...
and more recently Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
have used it as a winning try.
Openings with exchange variations
- Caro-Kann DefenseCaro-Kann DefenceThe Caro-Kann Defence is a chess opening —a common defense against the King's Pawn Opening characterised by the moves:The usual continuation isfollowed by 3.Nc3 , 3.Nd2 , 3.exd5 , or 3.e5 . The classical variation has gained much popularity...
(1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5) - French DefenseFrench DefenceThe French Defence is a chess opening. It is characterised by the moves:The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black in the early stages...
(1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5) - Grunfeld DefenseGrünfeld DefenceThe Grünfeld Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The first instance of this opening is in an 1855 game by Moheschunder Bannerjee, an Indian player who had transitioned from Indian chess rules, playing black against John Cochrane in Calcutta, in May 1855: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4...
(1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3) - Queen's Gambit DeclinedQueen's Gambit DeclinedThe Queen's Gambit Declined is a chess opening in which Black declines a pawn offered by White in the Queen's Gambit:This is known as the Orthodox Line of the Queen's Gambit Declined...
(1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5; often White delays the exchange for one or more moves) - Ruy Lopez, Exchange VariationRuy Lopez, Exchange VariationThe Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation is a variation of the Ruy Lopez chess opening that begins with the moves:-ECO codes:There are two ECO classifications for the Exchange Variation. ECO code C68 covers 4...dxc6, with White's response of 5.d4 or 5.Nc3 to either capture...
(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6; deferred exchange variations are also known, such as 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6, the so-called Delayed Exchange Ruy Lopez Deferred (DERLD)) - Slav DefenseSlav DefenseThe Slav Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Slav is one of the primary defenses to the Queen's Gambit. Although it was analyzed as early as 1590, it was not until the 1920s that it started to be explored extensively...
(1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5) - Alekhine Defense (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6)