Chessstack

Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation

ECO code
B03
Moves
Add to my repertoire

Create a free account to add the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation to a repertoire and start drilling it. Already have one? Sign in.

About this variation

White plays c4 and then exd6, trading the e5 pawn for space in the center and on the queenside.

The Exchange Variation is 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6. White trades the e5 pawn and keeps pawns on c4 and d4, which control the center and restrict the knight on b6. Black must choose how to recapture, and that choice sets the structure for the rest of the game.

After 5...exd6, Black gets a symmetrical-looking structure with pawns on d6 and c7 against White's c4 and d4. Black develops with ...Be7, ...O-O, ...Bf5 and ...Nc6, and aims for ...d5 or ...Bf6 to pressure d4. The position is solid, and White's extra central space is the only real difference.

After 5...cxd6, Black keeps the e-pawn and gets a half-open c-file. Black often fianchettoes with ...g6 and ...Bg7 to aim at d4. This recapture leads to more unbalanced positions where Black can play for a win.

White's plans include Nc3, Be3, Bd3 and Nge2 or Nf3, with long-term pressure based on space. White can also aim for c5 to drive the knight back further, or for d5 to gain more space. If Black's pieces stay passive, White can slowly increase the pressure across the board.

Black's main task is to activate the knight on b6, which can feel out of play. Typical regroupings include ...N8d7-f6 and ...Nb6-d7, and the ...d5 break can free the position once Black's pieces are ready.

The Exchange Variation suits White players who like positional play with a space advantage and clear plans. Black players should decide in advance whether they prefer 5...exd6 or 5...cxd6, since the two recaptures lead to quite different games.

A useful guideline for Black is to count how many pieces can reach d4 before choosing a plan, since pressure on that pawn is the main source of counterplay in both recaptures.

It is one of the main lines of the Alekhine Defense.

Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation statistics

The Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation was reached in 34,367 master games (0.2% of all master games), and White scored 52% from there. On Lichess it comes up in <0.1% of games, most often among players rated 2201–2400 (0.2%).

Master games

34,367

0.2% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

133.7K

<0.1% of games between players rated up to 2400

White wins Draws Black wins

How often it comes up, by rating

  • 0–1000 <0.1%
  • 1001–1200 <0.1%
  • 1201–1400 <0.1%
  • 1401–1600 <0.1%
  • 1601–1800 <0.1%
  • 1801–2000 <0.1%
  • 2001–2200 0.1%
  • 2201–2400 0.2%

Most common next moves in master games

MoveGamesPlayedResults
5... exd617,16150%
5... cxd617,08550%
5... Qxd6460.1%
5... Nc626<0.1%
5... e521<0.1%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Daniel Naroditsky 313 games
  • Chessbrah 102 games
  • Hikaru Nakamura 93 games
  • Alireza Firouzja 43 games
  • Ben Finegold 39 games
  • Hans Niemann 27 games

Master games from the Chessmont database (CC BY-SA 4.0). Club games from the Lichess open database.

Other Alekhine Defense variations