Chess opening · ECO D35
Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation
This page reaches the Exchange Variation through the Indian move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5, so Black's king's knight is already on f6 when White trades on d5. The capture settles the pawn structure early. White gives Black's c8 bishop an open diagonal, and in return gets a clear plan against Black's queenside pawns that can run for many moves.
- Rank by weighted share
- #156 of 159
- Material
- White +1
Key moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
- 3... d5Black puts a pawn on d5 after starting with ...Nf6 and ...e6, so the game becomes a Queen's Gambit Declined with the king's knight already developed.
- 4. cxd5White releases the tension on d5 before Black can choose a setup. Black can recapture with the e-pawn, keeping a pawn in the center and freeing the c8 bishop, or with the f6 knight, which trades pieces and gives White a chance at a broad center with e4.
Recapturing with the e-pawn
After ...exd5 Black has a pawn on d5 and, usually after a later ...c6, another on c6, while White keeps d4 and plays e3. This is the Carlsbad structure. White's half-open file is the c-file, aimed at c6. Black's is the e-file, aimed at e3.
The trade frees Black's light-squared bishop at once. With the e6 pawn gone, the squares e6, f5 and g4 are all open to it.
Pushing the b-pawn against c6
White's long-term plan is to advance the b-pawn to b4 and b5, two pawns going forward against three, which is why it is called the minority attack. If Black takes on b5, the d5 pawn is left with no neighbors. If White takes on c6 and Black recaptures with the b-pawn, c6 becomes the weak point. Rooks on b1 and c1 back the plan.
Black's play on the other wing
Black usually looks to the center and kingside. A knight landing on e4, supported by the d5 pawn, is a standard idea. The rook goes to e8, and the queen's knight often travels from d7 to f8 and then on to g6 or e6.
Quiet development after ...exd5
4... exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Nf3 Re8 10. O-O Nf8
Both sides finish development without contact. White's bishop on d3 and queen on c2 line up toward h7, while Black reroutes the knight from d7 to f8, where it guards h7 and can go on to g6 or e6.
Top replies by rating
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | exd5 66% | Nxd5 34% | – |
| 1400–1599 | exd5 57% | Nxd5 43% | – |
| 1600–1799 | exd5 64% | Nxd5 36% | – |
| 1800–1999 | exd5 81% | Nxd5 19% | – |
| 2000 and up | exd5 93% | Nxd5 7% | – |
Questions
What changes after ...Nxd5 instead?
Black keeps the e6 pawn, so the c8 bishop stays behind it. White can play e4 to hit the d5 knight, and after ...Nxc3 bxc3 White has pawns on c3, d4 and e4. Black then works against that center, often with ...c5.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.