Answers.Body: <p>It is basically a trade-off: are you so afraid of the Slav that you're willing to play a slightly inferior Exchange line?</p>
  
  <p>The main line of the QGD Exchange is:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If you have a clever opponent, they can play Be7 instead of Nf6 if you exchange too early:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Be7
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In that case, you can only play variations with Bf4, which promise less chances of advantage.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-16T07:54:46.853Z
Answers.Text: Can't black always play Be7 first, even if you don't exchange too early?
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
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Answers.Text: Yes, though then White can play Nf3 and Black doesn't have any good moves. ...c6 allows e4, and Nbd7 hangs a pawn. Nf6 lets White play Bg5 again. None of this crushes Black, but it does restore flexibility for White.
Answers.UserDisplayName: aschultz
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-16T06:11:34.167Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-16T06:11:34.167Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Glorfindel
Answers.Body: <p>Exchanging on move three is too early.</p>
  
  <p>After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 cxd5? exd5 4 Nc3 Black solves his main problem of how to develop with the Queenside Bishop. This achieved with with 4 ... c6! and ... Bf5!, for example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  [StartPLY "6"]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qc2 Bd6 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Bg5 Bf5
  </code></pre>
  
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Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-10-24T17:22:55.087Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-10-24T17:22:55.087Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: CID64
Answers.Body: <p>The move 3 cd5 is certainly not good as it does  nothing to improve White's position, and in fact helps Black's development opening the c8-h3 diagonal.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-15T23:17:27.187Z
Answers.Text: True, it helps Black's development opening the c8-h3 diagonal, but my intention is to transpose into the QGD exchange variation.
Answers.UserDisplayName: limits
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrea Mori
Answers.Body: <p>On general principles, trading a slightly wing pawn for a center pawn is good, but on the other hand, the e6-pawn no longer blocks Black's queen bishop. cxd5 may allow the White bishop to move a bit more, but it's to b5 (Black is playing c6 anyway).</p>
  
  <p>White is trading an aggressive pawn that influences a center square on Black's side of the board for a slightly more passive one. </p>
  
  <p>Also, if White is trying for a minority attack, this shows his hand.</p>
  
  <p>cxd5 isn't bad per se--if you are playing a higher-rated player and need a draw, it may be a throw down the gauntlet moment to say "you'll have to take risks to beat me!" But I usually find it's best to keep the tension going. This is oversimplifying, but sometimes chess is a game of chicken, and if you take to relieve a bit of pressure on you, you may relieve more on your opponent.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-08T04:14:50.527Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-09-08T04:14:50.527Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: aschultz
Answers.Body: <p>The Objective of White is to develop the Pieces and attack Black ASAP. Both sides should try to complete Development and then Play in Center/Flanks .</p>
  
  <p>When White does a cd5 then it is helping Black to free himself and Develop the c8 Bishop . You know Bishops are already active from their Initial Position &amp; cover the Squares that come across its Diagonals . So it is not a very good Strategic Decision from White to play cd5.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-02-23T14:00:59.577Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2017-02-23T14:00:59.577Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Seth Projnabrata
Answers.Body: <p>After 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3, if black plays 4....Nf6 or 4....Be7, then white indeed succesfully transposed to the mainlines of the QGD and avoided any transpositions to the Slav.</p>
  
  <p>Black's best reply is probably 4....c6, after which white has 3 good options: 5.Nf3, 5.Bf4 and 5.Qc2.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>After 5.Nf3 black can play 5....Bd6 or 5....Bf5.</li>
  <li>After 5.Bf4 black's best moves also are 5....Bd6 or 5....Bf5. (Black has an extra tempo compared to 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bd6, as in <a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1602147" rel="noreferrer">Wojtaszek - Kraemer</a>)</li>
  <li>After 5.Qc2, both 5....Bd6 and 5....g6 (with idea Bf5) seem good moves for black.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>In all variations, black has a good version of the QGD, as white cannot prevent him from developing his bishop to f5.</p>
  
  <p>It seems that after 3.cxd5 black equalizes rather easily and that 3.Nc3 or 3.Nf3 are much more principle moves.
  However, 3.cxd5 cannot be called a mistake. If the Carlsbad structure suits your playing style, then it is worth a try.</p>
  
  <pre><code>  [StartPly "4"]
  
    [FEN ""]
    1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 (3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bd6) exd5 4.Nc3 c6 (4...Nf6)(4...Be7) 5.Qc2 (5.Nf3 Bd6 (5...Bf5)) (5.Bf4 Bd6 (5...Bf5)) 5...Bd6 (5...g6)
  </code></pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-08-05T08:18:16.423Z
Answers.Text: You're correct that cxd5 equalizes.  I have included why.  I'd say the variation isn't good, not that it "is worth a try", for it leads to an easy draw at high levels of play, hence the equalization you mentioned.  Being drawish as white IS a bad thing!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Paul Burchett
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-08-05T09:23:34.930Z
Answers.Text: I don't really agree: equalizing and being drawish aren't necessarily the same. After 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3 c6 a lot of things can still happen in the middle game. For instance, white starts his attack on the queenside with b4-b5, black tries to develop a king side attack. Morozevich played it twice with white, and won a game against Shirov: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1334672 And Morozevich cannot be called a drawish player... :-D
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-08-05T10:03:13.567Z
Answers.Text: If White is forced to equalize, not at any point gaining a clear advantage, then Black has done its job.  My opinion, many times at the GM level, I'd guess, the correct philosophy is to equalize yourself out of the opening as Black.  Sure the middle game is trickier than the opening, but it gets rid of a phase of the game where one has a fighting chance in the middle.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Paul Burchett
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-08-05T10:03:26.927Z
Answers.Text: In the game you linked I didn't view the entire game, but I think the b5 pawn push was a mistake.  I think white can still delay castling queen side after the b5 push and still be able to castle this direction, thus making any kingside attack negligible, and giving white a crucial tempo to further the attack on the queen's side.  Although that is what was tried to some extent, I think that a2-a4 for White weakens any potential castling on either side, for b4! as a response is strong!  Just my thoughts as an average tourny player.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Paul Burchett
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-10-24T18:35:00.297Z
Answers.Text: @PaulBurchett, a titled player wouldn't post the question, so OP is either a beginner or a club-level player. Sure, the line given equalizes but does that really matter at the club level, where even the exchange French isn't a guaranteed draw?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Larry Coleman
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Answers.Text: Larry,
  
  I'm in the camp that positional advantages, even slight, should be kept.  
  
  If I were teaching the game, I'd at least warn anyone that chose to pursue this line that eventually they'd have to quit playing it if they didn't want to draw more games as White.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Paul Burchett
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-16T07:21:14.543Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-08-15T07:29:49.507Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-08-15T07:29:49.507Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Body: <p>I play the Exchange variation as White when Black plays 2...e6 against the Queen's Gambit. Should I play 3. cxd5 to avoid the transpoition to the Slav 3. Nc3 (hoping for 3...Nf6 4. cxd5) c6!?</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5!? (3. Nc3 c6!?)
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <opening><queens-gambit><1.d4><slav-defense>
Title: After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6, should White play 3. cxd5?
ThreadText: # After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6, should White play 3. cxd5?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-15)
  
  I play the Exchange variation as White when Black plays 2...e6 against the Queen's Gambit. Should I play 3. cxd5 to avoid the transpoition to the Slav 3. Nc3 (hoping for 3...Nf6 4. cxd5) c6!?
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5!? (3. Nc3 c6!?)
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** opening, queens-gambit, 1.d4, slav-defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 6 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2015-07-16. Score: 11 | Accepted answer
  
  After 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3, if black plays 4....Nf6 or 4....Be7, then white indeed succesfully transposed to the mainlines of the QGD and avoided any transpositions to the Slav.
  
  Black's best reply is probably 4....c6, after which white has 3 good options: 5.Nf3, 5.Bf4 and 5.Qc2.
  
  * After 5.Nf3 black can play 5....Bd6 or 5....Bf5.
  * After 5.Bf4 black's best moves also are 5....Bd6 or 5....Bf5. (Black has an extra tempo compared to 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bd6, as in [Wojtaszek - Kraemer](http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1602147))
  * After 5.Qc2, both 5....Bd6 and 5....g6 (with idea Bf5) seem good moves for black.
  
  In all variations, black has a good version of the QGD, as white cannot prevent him from developing his bishop to f5.
  
  It seems that after 3.cxd5 black equalizes rather easily and that 3.Nc3 or 3.Nf3 are much more principle moves.
  However, 3.cxd5 cannot be called a mistake. If the Carlsbad structure suits your playing style, then it is worth a try.
  
  ```
    [StartPly "4"]
  
    [FEN ""]
    1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 (3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bd6) exd5 4.Nc3 c6 (4...Nf6)(4...Be7) 5.Qc2 (5.Nf3 Bd6 (5...Bf5)) (5.Bf4 Bd6 (5...Bf5)) 5...Bd6 (5...g6)
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_8**: You're correct that cxd5 equalizes.  I have included why.  I'd say the variation isn't good, not that it "is worth a try", for it leads to an easy draw at high levels of play, hence the equalization you mentioned.  Being drawish as white IS a bad thing!  
  > **username_7**: I don't really agree: equalizing and being drawish aren't necessarily the same. After 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Nc3 c6 a lot of things can still happen in the middle game. For instance, white starts his attack on the queenside with b4-b5, black tries to develop a king side attack. Morozevich played it twice with white, and won a game against Shirov: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1334672 And Morozevich cannot be called a drawish player... :-D  
  > **username_8**: If White is forced to equalize, not at any point gaining a clear advantage, then Black has done its job.  My opinion, many times at the GM level, I'd guess, the correct philosophy is to equalize yourself out of the opening as Black.  Sure the middle game is trickier than the opening, but it gets rid of a phase of the game where one has a fighting chance in the middle.  
  > **username_8**: In the game you linked I didn't view the entire game, but I think the b5 pawn push was a mistake.  I think white can still delay castling queen side after the b5 push and still be able to castle this direction, thus making any kingside attack negligible, and giving white a crucial tempo to further the attack on the queen's side.  Although that is what was tried to some extent, I think that a2-a4 for White weakens any potential castling on either side, for b4! as a response is strong!  Just my thoughts as an average tourny player.  
  > **username_9**: @username_8, a titled player wouldn't post the question, so OP is either a beginner or a club-level player. Sure, the line given equalizes but does that really matter at the club level, where even the exchange French isn't a guaranteed draw?  
  > **username_8**: username_9,  I'm in the camp that positional advantages, even slight, should be kept.    If I were teaching the game, I'd at least warn anyone that chose to pursue this line that eventually they'd have to quit playing it if they didn't want to draw more games as White.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2015-07-16. Score: 4
  
  It is basically a trade-off: are you so afraid of the Slav that you're willing to play a slightly inferior Exchange line?
  
  The main line of the QGD Exchange is:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5
  
  ```
  
  If you have a clever opponent, they can play Be7 instead of Nf6 if you exchange too early:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Be7
  
  ```
  
  In that case, you can only play variations with Bf4, which promise less chances of advantage.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Can't black always play Be7 first, even if you don't exchange too early?  
  > **username_3**: Yes, though then White can play Nf3 and Black doesn't have any good moves. ...c6 allows e4, and Nbd7 hangs a pawn. Nf6 lets White play Bg5 again. None of this crushes Black, but it does restore flexibility for White.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2016-10-24. Score: 3
  
  Exchanging on move three is too early.
  
  After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 cxd5? exd5 4 Nc3 Black solves his main problem of how to develop with the Queenside Bishop. This achieved with with 4 ... c6! and ... Bf5!, for example:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  [StartPLY "6"]
  
  1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qc2 Bd6 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Bg5 Bf5
  
  ```
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2015-07-15. Score: 2
  
  The move 3 cd5 is certainly not good as it does nothing to improve White's position, and in fact helps Black's development opening the c8-h3 diagonal.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: True, it helps Black's development opening the c8-h3 diagonal, but my intention is to transpose into the QGD exchange variation.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2016-09-08. Score: 2
  
  On general principles, trading a slightly wing pawn for a center pawn is good, but on the other hand, the e6-pawn no longer blocks Black's queen bishop. cxd5 may allow the White bishop to move a bit more, but it's to b5 (Black is playing c6 anyway).
  
  White is trading an aggressive pawn that influences a center square on Black's side of the board for a slightly more passive one.
  
  Also, if White is trying for a minority attack, this shows his hand.
  
  cxd5 isn't bad per se--if you are playing a higher-rated player and need a draw, it may be a throw down the gauntlet moment to say "you'll have to take risks to beat me!" But I usually find it's best to keep the tension going. This is oversimplifying, but sometimes chess is a game of chicken, and if you take to relieve a bit of pressure on you, you may relieve more on your opponent.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2017-02-23. Score: 1
  
  The Objective of White is to develop the Pieces and attack Black ASAP. Both sides should try to complete Development and then Play in Center/Flanks .
  
  When White does a cd5 then it is helping Black to free himself and Develop the c8 Bishop . You know Bishops are already active from their Initial Position & cover the Squares that come across its Diagonals . So it is not a very good Strategic Decision from White to play cd5.
  
  
  ---
  
  