In the Slav Exchange Variation you take with 3., and 92 of every 100 opponents recapture : the pawns mirror each other and the c-file is open for both sides. The game turns on d5, and on b7, which loses its defender once the c8 bishop goes to f5. Between 900 and 1700 you score 52.1% (N = 31,476 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.
5 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After , 68 of every 100 players at your level go 4., hitting d5 right away. Strong players prefer it too, although 26 of every 100 choose 4.. The real split comes a move later: after , the public's most common choice is 5. (37 of every 100), while strong players go 5. (48 of every 100). Players rated 2200 and up on Lichess score 56 of every 100 with White here. If your opponent takes back with the queen, , which about 6 in 100 do, the queen lands in the center very early and you score 58 of every 100. The line shows up more than twice as often at 1500 to 1700 as at 900 to 1100.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91.8% | 51.8% | 96.7% | 100.0% | |
| 6.3% | 57.8% | 0.8% | no data | |
| 0.8% | 56.6% | no data | no data | |
| 0.7% | 55.6% | 2.3% | no data | |
| 0.2% | 51.0% | 0.2% | no data | |
| 0.1% | 60.0% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67.9% | 52.1% | 55.9% | 41.9% | |
| 14.2% | 51.7% | 11.5% | 9.7% | |
| 7.4% | 52.0% | 26.0% | 40.9% | |
| 6.3% | 50.3% | no data | no data | |
| 0.8% | 52.3% | no data | no data | |
| 0.8% | 47.0% | 0.5% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 5.8% | 7.5% | |
| no data | no data | 0.2% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.6% | 52.2% | 65.4% | 86.5% | |
| 19.6% | 50.5% | 26.4% | 13.5% | |
| 15.0% | 53.9% | 4.5% | no data | |
| 14.7% | 50.3% | no data | no data | |
| 3.6% | 52.2% | 1.6% | no data | |
| 0.9% | 54.3% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 2.1% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36.5% | 52.3% | 32.5% | 51.4% | |
| 23.6% | 52.0% | 9.5% | no data | |
| 17.8% | 54.4% | 48.2% | 48.6% | |
| 10.5% | 50.6% | 0.9% | no data | |
| 6.1% | 52.8% | 2.7% | no data | |
| 1.5% | 53.7% | 5.8% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.2% | 55.9% | 65.6% | 100.0% | |
| 27.4% | 53.2% | 2.1% | no data | |
| 19.2% | 53.6% | 21.8% | no data | |
| 18.2% | 51.7% | 7.7% | no data | |
| 2.8% | 47.6% | no data | no data | |
| 1.2% | 55.6% | 1.6% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.2% | no data |
Strong players follow 4. 5. 6. 7.. The pawns are symmetrical, d4 against d5, and neither side has a c-pawn left. Your job is to get both bishops out in front of your pawns, in an order that never leaves d4 short of defenders.
4. attacks d5 and covers e4 and b5. Your opponent guards the pawn with , the choice of 65 of every 100 strong players and 45 of every 100 at your level; the knight also keeps an eye on e4.
5. brings the c1 bishop out before you play e3. Push that pawn first and the bishop is stuck behind it. On f4 it covers e5 together with your d4 pawn and eyes c7 and b8.
hits d4, which at that moment only your queen defends. 6. adds a second defender and opens the diagonal for your f1 bishop. Strong players choose it in 93 of every 100 games. If your opponent brings that knight out on move 4 instead, (20 of every 100 at your level), the pressure on d4 comes sooner, and keeping that pawn covered again decides your move order.
looks quiet, but it takes b5 away from your c3 knight and your f1 bishop. From b5 the bishop would pin the c6 knight to the king, and the knight would join the f4 bishop in hitting c7. Strong players go in 54 of every 100 games; at your level only 19 of every 100 do, so b5 is often still there for you.
7. puts the bishop on the diagonal toward h7 and takes f5 away from the c8 bishop. That's the square it wants in this structure: after 5., 27 of every 100 opponents at your level play .
When your opponent brings that bishop out earlier, with (15 of every 100 at your level), b7 has no defender. 5. hits b7 and d5 at once, and with it you score 64 of every 100. Play anything slower and they get time for or ; by the time your queen reaches b3, or is ready.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 4,951 | 96.8% | |
| 5,115 | 55.7% | |
| 3,426 | 65.6% | |
| 3,779 | 48.2% | |
| 1,938 | 65.9% | |
| 1,427 | 92.6% | |
| 1,595 | 54.4% | |
| 1,054 | 50.7% |
After , b7 has lost the bishop that guarded it, and 5. develops without using that. Your opponent gets time for , propping up d5, and meets 6. with : after 7. no queen is left to hit b7. It's an inaccuracy, but it costs you: you score 49 of every 100 with 5. and 64 with 5..
34 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.2%; scores 64.3%.
5. supports d4, but it shuts in your c1 bishop while your opponent's bishop is already out on f5. It also delays your queen: after 6. , their queen guards b7 and d5 at the same time. It's an inaccuracy that 13 of every 100 players at your level make, and you score 47 of every 100 with it.
13 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.2%; scores 64.3%.
Reach the position through 4. and the same chance is there: b7 is undefended, and 5. hits it along with d5. 5., played by 68 of every 100 at your level, gives them time for , and 6. is met by , trading queens. You score 51 of every 100 with 5. and 69 with 5..
68 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.6%; scores 68.7%.
5. prepares the bishop on g2 but puts off the pressure on b7. Your opponent plays and , and when your queen finally reaches b3 on move 8, the e6 pawn already guards d5. It costs the most of the moves on this list: a real mistake, not an inaccuracy. You score 48 of every 100 with it.
7 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.2%; scores 64.3%.
After 5. , your e2 pawn shields your queen from the bishop. 6. moves that pawn and pins your f3 knight to the queen; 6. hits the bishop with no pin. After 6. , your queen must go to b3 before the knight can reach e5. You score 52 of every 100 with 6. and 64 with 6..
35 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.7%; scores 64.3%.
5. covers e4 and g4 to chase the f5 bishop, but it opens the diagonal from your king to h4 and leaves b7 alone. After 6. , the bishop simply drops back and you've pushed two kingside pawns. Only 4 in 100 players try it; you score 51 of every 100, against 64 with 5..
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.3%; scores 64.3%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 18,625 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 3,787 |
| Not castled | 3,744 | |
| Not castled | 2,952 | |
| 777 | ||
| 729 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | ||
| Not castled | 20 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 15 |
| Not castled | 12 | |
| Not castled | 1 | |
| 1 |
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D13
1,530 amateur games · White's score: 48.2%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D14
520 amateur games · White's score: 52.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D10
310 amateur games · White's score: 53.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D14
15 amateur games · White's score: 63.3%