Answers.Body: <p>The game has transposed to a standard exchange variation, a variation pretty well explained on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Defence#Exchange_Variation%3a_3.exd5_exd5" rel="noreferrer">Wikipedia.</a>
  You could try a setup with <code>4... Bd6</code>, <code>5... Ne7</code>, with the idea that if white puts his best  bishop on <code>Bd3</code>, you can play <code>Bf5</code> to change it off. Black is very comfortable.</p>
  
  <p>The move <code>4... Bb4+</code> is not to be recommended, since it only helps white, giving them the free move <code>5.c3</code>.</p>
  
  <p><code>3...Qxd5</code> should be avoided since in the Scandinavian positions that arise, it is important to develop the <code>c8</code> bishop before playing <code>e6</code>.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-02-01T17:27:39.640Z
Answers.Text: I like the idea of exchanging Black's bad bishop for White's good bishop. However, and not wanting to be pedantic I still maintain that the game has not transposed to the standard exchange variation as White does not have a knight in f3 in the standard exchange.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Marcus Junius Brutus
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-02-01T21:58:11.243Z
Answers.Text: @MarcusJuniusBrutus, it has transposed to the French Exchange where White has opted for `4.Nf3` instead of `4.Bd3`. I find 38,649 games in my database that reach the position after `1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5`. While `4.Bd3` is the most popular next move (played 42.2% of the time), `4.Nf3` is second (played 34.8% of the time), with all other choices well behind. So Dag's referring to this position as "a standard exchange variation" seems accurate.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-02-01T15:59:41.070Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-02-01T16:58:44.630Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-02-01T16:58:44.630Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Body: <p>I had the following in a game</p>
  
  <pre>
  <code>
    [FEN ""]
  1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 
  </code>
  </pre>
  
  <p>expecting White to follow with Nc3 leading to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Defence#Early_deviations_for_White" rel="nofollow">Two Knight's Variation of the French</a></p>
  
  <p>Instead, the game continuing with:</p>
  
  <pre>
  <code>
    [FEN ""]
  1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.d4
  </code>
  </pre>
  
  <p></p>
  
  <p>transposing, I guess to some form of the exchange variation although the typical  "exchange variation" happens in the French's main line: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5. Anyhow, is there a name for this opening and how should Black continue? (e.g. with 4....Bb4+ maybe?). Alternatively, might there be any merit in the adventurous 3...Qxd5 which loses a tempo for Black if followed by 4.Nc3?</p>
  
Tags: <opening><theory><french-defense>
Title: French :: exchange variation - but not quite
ThreadText: # French :: exchange variation - but not quite
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-01)
  
  I had the following in a game
  
  
    [FEN ""]
  1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 
  
  
  expecting White to follow with Nc3 leading to the Two Knight's Variation of the French
  Instead, the game continuing with:
  
  
    [FEN ""]
  1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.d4
  
  
  
  transposing, I guess to some form of the exchange variation although the typical  "exchange variation" happens in the French's main line: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5. Anyhow, is there a name for this opening and how should Black continue? (e.g. with 4....Bb4+ maybe?). Alternatively, might there be any merit in the adventurous 3...Qxd5 which loses a tempo for Black if followed by 4.Nc3?
  
  **Tags:** opening, theory, french-defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-02-01. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  The game has transposed to a standard exchange variation, a variation pretty well explained on [Wikipedia.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Defence#Exchange_Variation%3a_3.exd5_exd5)
  You could try a setup with `4... Bd6`, `5... Ne7`, with the idea that if white puts his best bishop on `Bd3`, you can play `Bf5` to change it off. Black is very comfortable.
  
  The move `4... Bb4+` is not to be recommended, since it only helps white, giving them the free move `5.c3`.
  
  `3...Qxd5` should be avoided since in the Scandinavian positions that arise, it is important to develop the `c8` bishop before playing `e6`.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: I like the idea of exchanging Black's bad bishop for White's good bishop. However, and not wanting to be pedantic I still maintain that the game has not transposed to the standard exchange variation as White does not have a knight in f3 in the standard exchange.  
  > **username_2**: @MarcusJuniusBrutus, it has transposed to the French Exchange where White has opted for `4.Nf3` instead of `4.Bd3`. I find 38,649 games in my database that reach the position after `1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5`. While `4.Bd3` is the most popular next move (played 42.2% of the time), `4.Nf3` is second (played 34.8% of the time), with all other choices well behind. So Dag's referring to this position as "a standard exchange variation" seems accurate.  
  
  ---
  
  