In the Exchange Variation you take with 4., and after the pawn structure is locked in: your opponent has a pawn on d5, and their c8 bishop, no longer buried behind e6, gets an open diagonal toward h3. You aim at that center with 5., which pins the f6 knight to the queen, and later bring your f1 bishop to d3. Between 900 and 1700 you score 53.6% (N = 22,146 Lichess games, September 2026).
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
6 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After , players rated 2200 and up continue with 5. in 90 of every 100 games; at your level, only 43 in 100 do. Against 5., opponents at your level pick 48 times in 100 and 16 times, while higher up the main choice is , at 48 in 100 among online players rated 2200 and up. After , strong players answer 6. in 84 of every 100 games. At your level you also see 6. (28 in 100) and 6. (12), and with 6. you score 48 in 100, against 52 with 6.. More games reach this position through 1. 2. 3. 4., not the move order on this page.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.4% | 53.8% | 38.8% | 34.0% | |
| 16.2% | 53.4% | 6.1% | 10.9% | |
| 15.0% | 51.1% | 47.6% | 49.2% | |
| 7.5% | 53.1% | 1.7% | 4.9% | |
| 4.7% | 52.4% | no data | no data | |
| 3.5% | 51.9% | 5.3% | 0.9% | |
| no data | no data | 0.2% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56.1% | 52.0% | 83.9% | 95.7% | |
| 27.7% | 54.1% | 0.9% | no data | |
| 11.6% | 48.4% | no data | no data | |
| 2.4% | 51.6% | 15.3% | 4.3% | |
| 2.1% | 34.5% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64.0% | 51.3% | 41.5% | 18.9% | |
| 11.9% | 62.0% | 21.6% | 46.2% | |
| 7.4% | 45.2% | 16.0% | 18.1% | |
| 6.2% | 65.4% | 3.7% | no data | |
| 5.7% | 43.8% | 11.1% | 13.9% | |
| 4.8% | 60.0% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 2.6% | 2.9% |
The strong-player line runs 5. 6. 7. 8.. By trading on d5 you give up the central tension and get a fixed structure in return: your d4 pawn facing the one on d5, a half-open c-file for you and a half-open e-file for your opponent. The cost is that their c8 bishop, usually stuck behind e6 in the Declined, is now free on the c8–h3 diagonal. Your own pieces head for squares that point at d5 and at your opponent's kingside.
Move order matters here. 5. develops the bishop before e3, because that pawn would shut it in. From g5 it pins the f6 knight to the queen on d8, and that knight is one of the two pieces guarding d5; the other is the queen itself. adds a pawn to that defense. Only then comes 6., opening the diagonal for your f1 bishop, which heads to d3.
On d3 the bishop covers f5, the exact square where your opponent's c8 bishop wants to settle; if it goes there, you can trade it off. After , 8. lines the queen up behind the bishop on the diagonal that ends at h7. That pawn is guarded by the king and the f6 knight, the same knight your g5 bishop is hitting. In most of your games with this opening, both sides castle short, and the fight is about d5 and your opponent's kingside.
The queen on c2 has a second job. With the knight on c3, the bishop on g5 and the queen off d1, nothing stands between your king and the a1 rook, so castling long is on the table too. Strong players sometimes bring the queen out early with 6., the Reshevsky Variation: 15 of every 100 games after . At your level only 2 in 100 play it.
At your level this line breaks down early, so watch for the deviations. After 6., your opponent plays in 64 of every 100 games. If they choose or instead, you score 65 and 62 in 100. If they jump ahead with , their bishop is already sitting on the square your d3 bishop meant to contest, and you score 45 in 100. And if they recapture with , the plan changes: 5. gives you the center, and the bishop goes to d3 to hold it. There's no d5 pawn left to play against, and what you're looking after is your own e4 pawn.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 11,326 | 91.4% | |
| 11,429 | 89.8% | |
| 10,154 | 47.6% | |
| 4,829 | 84.5% | |
| 3,964 | 40.1% | |
| 2,531 | 89.0% | |
| 2,072 | 42.8% | |
| 1,316 | 41.7% |
After , the knight blocks the queen, so only the f6 knight guards d5, and it looks pinned. 6. walks into the trap: 7. 8. , and your queen is still pinned: you lose a piece for a pawn. Play 6.. At your level 41 in 100 fall for it: you score 36 in 100, against 54.
41 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 6.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 36.2%; scores 53.7%.
Against , 6. keeps the pin, but after their bishop steps in between the knight and the queen, and they castle after 7. . Trading with 6. is the better move. It's an inaccuracy, and at your level opponents rarely make you pay for it: you score 53 in 100 with either move.
67 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 53.0%; scores 53.2%.
After 6. , 7. opens the center while your king is still on e1. Then 8. : the queen pins your e4 knight, which nothing defends, to your king, and the f6 bishop eyes d4. You need 9. 10. just to hold on to the knight. 7. is better. You score 47 in 100, against 53.
10 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.1%; scores 53.1%.
If your opponent recaptures with , 5. hands you the center. After 6. , your c3 knight is pinned and doesn't really protect e4. 7. hits the f6 knight, but after 8. you've given up your bishop and they keep both of theirs. 7. defends e4. This inaccuracy costs you: you score 60 in 100, against 74.
12 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 59.6%; scores 73.6%.
With 5. 6. on the board, pushing 7. kicks the knight, but brings it to the center, and from there it hits c3 again alongside the bishop. After 8. 9. they go after d4. 7. is the better move. You score 58 in 100, against 74.
14 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 57.7%; scores 73.6%.
After 5. 6. , your opponent's knight and queen both hit d4. 7. pins that knight, but questions the bishop, it drops back with 8., and keeps hitting the center. Play 7., which guards d4 and develops a piece. At your level this is rarely punished: you score 55 in 100, against 57.
17 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 54.8%; scores 56.7%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 13,857 | ||
| Not castled | 3,205 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 1,428 |
| 1,154 | ||
| Not castled | 1,079 | |
| 806 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 437 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 46 |
| Not castled | 32 | |
| 27 | ||
| 22 | ||
| Not castled | 18 |
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · 10,802 amateur games · 508 over the board
The line with 5., pinning the f6 knight to the queen; you score 53 in 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D36
304 amateur games · White's score: 57.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D35
23 amateur games · White's score: 58.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D35
7 amateur games · White's score: 28.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · D35