Chess Openings Lab
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Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation of the Alekhine arises after 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6, where White trades the e5 pawn instead of defending it. White keeps the c4-d4 space edge; Black must choose ...cxd6 for an unbalanced game or ...exd6 for a simpler, symmetrical one.

Moves
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6
ECO
B03
Engine
+0.55 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,930 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Develop with Nc3, Nf3 and Be2, and play h3 to keep a bishop off g4, as the engine does after 5...cxd6.
  • Protect c4 and d4 with Be3 and b3; the b6 knight and Black's dark bishop will lean on them.
  • A later d5 gains space and hits a knight on c6, but it hands Black the e5 square.

Black

  • 5...cxd6 keeps a central pawn majority; follow with ...g6, ...Bg7 and castling to aim at d4.
  • 5...exd6 opens the e-file and gives easy development with ...Be7, ...Nc6 and short castling.
  • Pressure d4 with ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 or ...Bf5; White's center becomes a target once pieces gang up on it.
  • Avoid 5...c6 6.dxe7, which leaves Black chasing with the queen while White develops.

Plans and pawn structure

With ...cxd6 Black has an extra central pawn and can later push ...e5 or ...d5 against White's space. White wants to keep c4 and d4 firm and expand with d5 or b4 to cramp the b6 knight. With ...exd6 the structure is calmer: both sides castle short, Black's pieces flow to e7 and c6, and the open e-file decides who controls e3 and e6. In both structures the b6 knight is Black's problem piece, and its route back via d7 matters.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.55: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.55 5...cxd6 6.Nf3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Be2
  2. +0.56 5...exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nge2
  3. +0.89 5...c6 6.dxe7 Qxe7+ 7.Be3 Qb4+ 8.Bd2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,930 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.6%.

1200–159949.6%
1600–199949.4%
2000 and up50.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation5...cxd6 · rare

How to play against it

Recapture with a pawn and pick the structure you like: ...cxd6 for a fighting game with a fianchetto, or ...exd6 for steady development. Do not let White keep a pawn on d6. Once developed, aim your pieces at d4 instead of waiting.

Questions

What are the moves of the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation?

The Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation starts 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6. Its ECO code is B03.

Is the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.55 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,930 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.6%. A sensible low-risk choice for White, while Black gets a solid game but needs patience to make the b6 knight useful.

What is the main idea of the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation?

White gives up the advanced e5 pawn but keeps space with pawns on c4 and d4. Black recaptures on d6 and then aims pieces at d4, with ...cxd6 offering a central majority and ...exd6 offering quick, simple development.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is cxd6, with exd6 and c6 close behind. 5...cxd6 keeps an extra center pawn for Black and prepares a kingside fianchetto aimed at d4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.