Exchange variant (French defense)

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	a	b	c	d	e	f	G	H

The French exchange variant after 3. e4xd5 e6xd5

The exchange variant of the French defense is a chess opening .

It arises after the trains

1. e2 – e4 e7 – e6
2. d2 – d4 d7 – d5
3. e4xd5 e6xd5

and therefore belongs to the ECO code C01.

It is not considered to be a particularly exciting opening, as the symmetrical pawn position and the open e-line, on which the heavy pieces are often exchanged, ensure a high draw rate . White retains a certain draw advantage, which is often neutralized after just a few moves. The exchange variant was already practiced by Paul Morphy , the former world chess champion Garri Kasparow (with 4. Ng1 – f3 and 5. c2 – c4) and the Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen .

variants

1. e2 – e4 e7 – e6 2. d2 – d4 d7 – d5 3. e4xd5 e6xd5

• 4. Bf1-d3 Sb8-c6
  • 5. c2 – c3 Bf8 – d6 6. Qd1 – f3 Bc8 – e6 7. Ng1 – e2 Qd8 – d7 with compensation.
  • 5. Ng1 – e2 Nc6 – b4 6. 0–0 Ng8 – f6 7. c2 – c3 Nb4xd3 8. Qd1xd3 Bf8 – e7 also with equalization.

• 4. Ng1 – f3 Bc8 – g4 (4th… Bc8 – d6) 5. h2 – h3 (5. c2 – c4) Bg4 – h5
  • 6. Bf1 – e2 Bf8 – d6 7. Nf3 – e5 Bh5xe2 8. Qd1xe2 Ng8 – e7 with compensation.
  • 6. Qd1 – e2 + Qd8 – e7 7. Bc1 – e3 Nb8 – c6 8. Nb1 – c3 0–0–0 9. 0–0–0 De7 – e8 with an unclear position.

• 4. c2 – c4 intends to open the game.
  • After 4.… d5xc4 5. Bf1xc4 Ng8 – f6 6. Ng1 – f3 Bc8 – d6
  • or 4.… Ng8 – f6 5. Nb1 – c3 Bf8 – e7 6. Ng1 – f3 0–0 7. Bf1 – e2 dxc4 8. Be2xc4 a position with an isolani has arisen. This position can also be reached via the Queen's Gambit accepted , but Black has one speed less in this line (it is White's turn).
• 4. Nb1 – c3 Bf8 – b4 can also be created by changing moves via the Winawer variant .
  • 5. Qd1 – f3, an idea by Bent Larsen , now avoids the double pawn on c3 or prevents… Bc8 – f5.
  • 5. Bf1 – d3 Ng8 – e7 6. Qd1 – h5 is the Canal attack.

literature

• Nikita Vitiugov : The French Defense Reloaded . Chess Stars , Sofia 2012, ISBN 978-954-8782-86-9 (English).
• Dejan Antic , Branimir Maksimovic : The Modern French . A Complete Guide for Black. New In Chess , Alkmaar 2012, ISBN 978-90-5691-399-1 (English).
• Jacob Aagaard , Nikolaos Ntirlis : Playing the French . Quality Chess , Glasgow 2013, ISBN 978-1-907982-37-8 (English).

Web links

• C01: French, exchange variation on 365chess.com (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Exchange variant 4. c4 dxc4 (with change of move): Short-Bareev, EU-chT Pula 1997 at chessgames.com
2. ↑ Exchange variant 4. c4 Nf6 (with change of move): Piorun-Baramidze, Bundesliga 2016 at chessgames.com
3. ↑ Accepted Queen's Gambit: Korchnoj-Rogers, Olympiad Moscow 1994 at chessgames.com