Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...exd4/4. Nxd4

Exchange variation Exchange variation 4. Nxd4 White recaptures the pawn with the knight. 4...Nf6 is the main move, attacking the e4 pawn, and is answered with 5. Nc3 to defend it. To bring more pressure to it, Black must bring the rook to e8, which requires the manoeuvre ...Be7, ...O-O, ...Re8 and ...Bf8. Both sides develop their pieces: Black usually avoids playing ...Nc6 until after they have played ...c5 (with tempo on White's knight) to avoid blocking it in. ...c5 weakens the d6 pawn so committing to it too early can be a mistake, e.g. 4...Nf6 5. Nc3 c5? 6. Bb5+ Bd7 (prevents Q from seeing d6) 7. Nf5 Nc6 8. Nxd6+ Bxd6 9. Qxd6++. Theory table . 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 4 5 6 7 8 9 Exchange Variation 4. Nxd4 Nxd4Nf6 Nc3Be7 Bc4O-O O-ONxe4! Nxe4d5! Bd3dxe4 = ....... ...... Bf4O-O Be2Nc6 O-ORe8 = ....... ...... ...... ...... Qd2Nxd4 Qxd4 +/= ....... ...... ...... ...Re8 Qd2Nc6 O-O-O +/= ....... ...... ...... Qd2!d5 Ndb5Bb4 O-O-O +/= ....... ...... ...... ...Nc6 O-O-ONxd4 Qxd4 +/= ....... ...... Be2O-O Bf4Re8 Qd2 +/= ....... ...... ...... O-ORe8 f4 +/= <tr> ....... ...... ...... ...... Re1 +/= ....... ...... g3d5 e5Ng4 Bg2Nxe5 Qe2 +/= ....... ...... ...O-O Bg2Re8 O-O +/= ....... ...... ...... ...... ...O-O O-O +/= ....... ...... ...O-O Bg2Re8 O-OBf8 h3 +/= ...Nc6 = ...c5 Nf3Nc6 Nc3Be7 Bf4!Nf6 Qd2Be6 Ng5! +/= References See also Philidor Defence Kaufman, Larry (2004). The Chess Advantage in Black and White. 0-8129-3571-3. Panov, Vasily (1973). Teoría de Aperturas, Tomo I: Aperturas Abiertas - Aperturas Semiabiertas. 84-270-0132-0. Schiller, Eric (2002). Standard Chess Openings. 1-58042-048-6.