Answers.Body: <p>I am going to describe a system for Black that I play, but you can flip the situation around and play the system for White. I actually saw it played as White first (possibly by Serper?), and I decided to try it for Black. Play <code>Bd3</code>, <code>Qf3</code>, and <code>Ne2</code>, (<code>c3</code> and <code>h3</code> are probably necessary at some point). I may bring the bishop out to f4 or g5 if allowed. The key here is to bring the e2 knight to f5 via g3. The other knight sometimes comes around via a3 to c2 to e3 to f5. The knight on f5 is very annoying, Black may weaken himself with g6 or give up the two bishops to get rid of the knight. Playing the strategy with Black, I have won at least a few games with sacs on h3 and g2 in these positions. Frequently, White players lack a strategy as you describe and after developing their pieces (<code>Bd3</code>, <code>Nf3</code>, <code>0-0</code> and controlling the e-file), they are unable to coordinate them with any real purpose.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: Very nice answer
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Answers.Body: <p>Again I know this is an old post but again I cannot resist posting now!
  I play the French defence as White and Black. However I mainly play 5 min blitz chess and my main White French line is the Advance MilnerBarry Gambit (I'm presently exploring the ADG and Classical French with 3.Nc3). So I need to ask why choose to play the French Exchange as White?
  I play the French as Black and without a doubt the most boring dull games are usually the French Exchange variation. It has a reputation of being drawish and dull and often played by a lower rated player hoping for a draw and not trying for a win. I guess it has a small psychological impact when Black players see it and think this way and are a little peeved with White for choosing this dull way to play the normally rich French defence.</p>
  
  <p>It is hard for me then to say exactly what White aims for as I don't play it as White but I can say what White tries against me playing against it as black. The essentials are quick development and quick castling and pinning the black knight at Nf6 and throwing the bishops and Queen into a kingside attack. The annoying knight pin can give white chances to attack further in the centre at any stage. Bishop and Queen often put lots of pressure on h7 and beware bishop sacs on h7. White will use the knights to attack on the kingside and even try rook lifts to attack the black king down the h, g and f files. White can try and throw everything into this kingside attack(pawns and all)!</p>
  
  <p>It is generally thought Black should look for asymmetric play but black also needs to develop quickly and castle quickly (and sometimes queenside castle) and not waste any move tempo. Another important point to note is that in the Exchange blacks light squared bishop is no longer a bad bishop with no pawn on e6. Instead it instantly becomes a good bishop and can take part in the game from the start. So White concedes this from the outset, whereas, in most other variations the bad french bishop takes ages to get in the game.</p>
  
  <p>I'm not sure which present day GM's favour this opening as white but apparently it was a favourite of old master J H Blackburne. From the black side a notable game was Tatai vs Korchnoi 1978 0-1.</p>
  
  <p>My final recommendation is do not play it as White! Instead choose the Classical, Winawer,Tarrasch, Advance or even the KingsIndian attack! If you do persist in playing it bon chance! :-)</p>
  
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Answers.Body: <p>First, a side note: I play the black side of the French Defense almost religiously, and my results against the Exchange variation have traditionally been very good. It's not a variation that's feared by most French Defense practitioners. Neither, for that matter, is the Advance variation, which gives black a very clear plan of strategic counterattack based on undermining the white center, freeing the poor light-square bishop, and sometimes pressuring the white queen-side pawns. There are also lesser-known closed lines of the Advance involving a <code>...c4</code> pawn push that, while objectively tend to lead to equality, are very promising for the black player who is more familiar with their nuances than his opponent. If you really want to give French players trouble, consider learning to play (one of) the Tarrasch, Steinitz, or Classical variations.</p>
  
  <p>Anyway, back to your main question. Normally, it's asymmetry of position that informs/determines the respective strategies that both sides attempt to realize. The exchange variation, however, is inherently symmetrical and therefore no clear, overarching strategies present themselves until the symmetry is broken by either white or black. There are a few proactive ways of creating asymmetry in this variation:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><code>4. c4</code> which usually leads to IQP positions with all the attendant and characteristic advantages and disadvantages. The player with the IQP is advised to play aggressive, attacking chess and avoid liquidation of material (unless doing so yields an obvious benefit), as the IQP could be easily blockaded and made into a major weakness in the endgame.</li>
  <li>Preparing queen-side castling and launching a pawn storm if black chooses to castle king-side. This is highly double-edged and possibly questionable in its soundness, but a viable choice if you enjoy very sharp games and are confident in your tactical abilities.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Other moves are mostly noncommittal and give black time to develop as he chooses. Ultimately, if neither side breaks symmetry in any substantial way, the game is probably going to revolve largely around control/occupation of the squares e4 and e5. Further, numerous minor piece trades are very likely to take place on the e-file in such situations, leading to drawish positions.</p>
  
  <p>One general piece of advice I'd offer, if you insist on playing the Exchange variation at all, is to delay it by one move and play <code>3. Nc3</code> first. In that case, if black opts for the Winawer variation with <code>3... Bb4</code>, there's an argument to be made that, after <code>4. exd5 exd5 5. a3</code>, black simply doesn't have any great choices (i.e., he must either effectively waste a move retreating the bishop, or cede the bishop pair, when the doubling of white's c-pawns could even be viewed as an asset in many situations because of their superior centralization). On the other hand, if black plays classically with <code>3... Nf6</code>, he has lost the possibility of playing the pawn to f6 (often a good choice in many lines of the exchange variation because it helps to control the key e5 square and restrains white's minor pieces).</p>
  
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Body: <p>In the French Defense Advance Variation, <code>1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 ...</code>, there are some clear game plans for both sides, areas where you want a pawn break, where you want to attack, etc.</p>
  
  <p>However, in the French Defense Exchange Variation, <code>1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5</code>, things are different. What are white and black's goals? Are there any key concepts or underlying strategies? After developing my pieces, and playing logical attacking and defensive moves, I start to wonder "what I am trying to do?" and I usually don't have a good answer to this question. It feels very strange to play this, and I am looking for some tips and ideas about playing the exchange variation as white.</p>
  
Tags: <opening><strategy><theory><french-defense>
Title: Playing the French Defense Exchange Variation
ThreadText: # Playing the French Defense Exchange Variation
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-23)
  
  In the French Defense Advance Variation, `1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 ...`, there are some clear game plans for both sides, areas where you want a pawn break, where you want to attack, etc.
  
  However, in the French Defense Exchange Variation, `1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5`, things are different. What are white and black's goals? Are there any key concepts or underlying strategies? After developing my pieces, and playing logical attacking and defensive moves, I start to wonder "what I am trying to do?" and I usually don't have a good answer to this question. It feels very strange to play this, and I am looking for some tips and ideas about playing the exchange variation as white.
  
  **Tags:** opening, strategy, theory, french-defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2012-06-24. Score: 19 | Accepted answer
  
  First, a side note: I play the black side of the French Defense almost religiously, and my results against the Exchange variation have traditionally been very good. It's not a variation that's feared by most French Defense practitioners. Neither, for that matter, is the Advance variation, which gives black a very clear plan of strategic counterattack based on undermining the white center, freeing the poor light-square bishop, and sometimes pressuring the white queen-side pawns. There are also lesser-known closed lines of the Advance involving a `...c4` pawn push that, while objectively tend to lead to equality, are very promising for the black player who is more familiar with their nuances than his opponent. If you really want to give French players trouble, consider learning to play (one of) the Tarrasch, Steinitz, or Classical variations.
  
  Anyway, back to your main question. Normally, it's asymmetry of position that informs/determines the respective strategies that both sides attempt to realize. The exchange variation, however, is inherently symmetrical and therefore no clear, overarching strategies present themselves until the symmetry is broken by either white or black. There are a few proactive ways of creating asymmetry in this variation:
  
  1. `4. c4` which usually leads to IQP positions with all the attendant and characteristic advantages and disadvantages. The player with the IQP is advised to play aggressive, attacking chess and avoid liquidation of material (unless doing so yields an obvious benefit), as the IQP could be easily blockaded and made into a major weakness in the endgame.
  2. Preparing queen-side castling and launching a pawn storm if black chooses to castle king-side. This is highly double-edged and possibly questionable in its soundness, but a viable choice if you enjoy very sharp games and are confident in your tactical abilities.
  
  Other moves are mostly noncommittal and give black time to develop as he chooses. Ultimately, if neither side breaks symmetry in any substantial way, the game is probably going to revolve largely around control/occupation of the squares e4 and e5. Further, numerous minor piece trades are very likely to take place on the e-file in such situations, leading to drawish positions.
  
  One general piece of advice I'd offer, if you insist on playing the Exchange variation at all, is to delay it by one move and play `3. Nc3` first. In that case, if black opts for the Winawer variation with `3... Bb4`, there's an argument to be made that, after `4. exd5 exd5 5. a3`, black simply doesn't have any great choices (i.e., he must either effectively waste a move retreating the bishop, or cede the bishop pair, when the doubling of white's c-pawns could even be viewed as an asset in many situations because of their superior centralization). On the other hand, if black plays classically with `3... Nf6`, he has lost the possibility of playing the pawn to f6 (often a good choice in many lines of the exchange variation because it helps to control the key e5 square and restrains white's minor pieces).
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-11-23. Score: 13
  
  I am going to describe a system for Black that I play, but you can flip the situation around and play the system for White. I actually saw it played as White first (possibly by Serper?), and I decided to try it for Black. Play `Bd3`, `Qf3`, and `Ne2`, (`c3` and `h3` are probably necessary at some point). I may bring the bishop out to f4 or g5 if allowed. The key here is to bring the e2 knight to f5 via g3. The other knight sometimes comes around via a3 to c2 to e3 to f5. The knight on f5 is very annoying, Black may weaken himself with g6 or give up the two bishops to get rid of the knight. Playing the strategy with Black, I have won at least a few games with sacs on h3 and g2 in these positions. Frequently, White players lack a strategy as you describe and after developing their pieces (`Bd3`, `Nf3`, `0-0` and controlling the e-file), they are unable to coordinate them with any real purpose.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Very nice answer  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-16. Score: 3
  
  Again I know this is an old post but again I cannot resist posting now!
  I play the French defence as White and Black. However I mainly play 5 min blitz chess and my main White French line is the Advance MilnerBarry Gambit (I'm presently exploring the ADG and Classical French with 3.Nc3). So I need to ask why choose to play the French Exchange as White?
  I play the French as Black and without a doubt the most boring dull games are usually the French Exchange variation. It has a reputation of being drawish and dull and often played by a lower rated player hoping for a draw and not trying for a win. I guess it has a small psychological impact when Black players see it and think this way and are a little peeved with White for choosing this dull way to play the normally rich French defence.
  
  It is hard for me then to say exactly what White aims for as I don't play it as White but I can say what White tries against me playing against it as black. The essentials are quick development and quick castling and pinning the black knight at Nf6 and throwing the bishops and Queen into a kingside attack. The annoying knight pin can give white chances to attack further in the centre at any stage. Bishop and Queen often put lots of pressure on h7 and beware bishop sacs on h7. White will use the knights to attack on the kingside and even try rook lifts to attack the black king down the h, g and f files. White can try and throw everything into this kingside attack(pawns and all)!
  
  It is generally thought Black should look for asymmetric play but black also needs to develop quickly and castle quickly (and sometimes queenside castle) and not waste any move tempo. Another important point to note is that in the Exchange blacks light squared bishop is no longer a bad bishop with no pawn on e6. Instead it instantly becomes a good bishop and can take part in the game from the start. So White concedes this from the outset, whereas, in most other variations the bad french bishop takes ages to get in the game.
  
  I'm not sure which present day GM's favour this opening as white but apparently it was a favourite of old master J H Blackburne. From the black side a notable game was Tatai vs Korchnoi 1978 0-1.
  
  My final recommendation is do not play it as White! Instead choose the Classical, Winawer,Tarrasch, Advance or even the KingsIndian attack! If you do persist in playing it bon chance! :-)
  
  
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