Alekhine: Exchange – 5...cxd6 6.Nc3
Alekhine Defense – Exchange Variation
Definition
The Exchange Variation of the Alekhine Defense arises after the sequence
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6.
White voluntarily exchanges the e-pawn for Black’s d-pawn, hoping to:
- Inflict structural weaknesses on Black (an isolated or backward pawn on d6).
- Open the e-file for pressure against Black’s king side.
- Keep a spatial advantage in the center after chasing the knight to b6.
How It Is Used
Club and professional players alike choose the Exchange Variation when they want to avoid the labyrinth of sharper main lines such as 4. Nf3 and aim instead for a long-term positional squeeze. From Black’s standpoint, recapturing with the c-pawn (5…cxd6) or the e-pawn (5…exd6) marks a major branching point that shapes the ensuing middlegame.
Strategic Themes
- Pawn Structure: White’s central pawns (d4-c4) can cramp Black, but Black often hits back with …e5 or …d5 breaks.
- Piece Play: Black’s knights enjoy active posts (Nb6, Nf6) and pieces flow easily to kingside fianchetto setups (…g6, …Bg7).
- Endgame Appeal: An endgame with a stubborn weakness on d6 can favour White; conversely, Black’s bishop pair often compensates.
Historical Significance
Although Alexander Alekhine himself preferred wilder continuations, Soviet grandmasters such as Viktor Korchnoi and later Anatoly Karpov deployed the Exchange Variation as a reliable strategic weapon during the 1960s-80s. Its solid reputation persists in modern praxis, surfacing occasionally at elite events when players desire an offbeat yet respectable battleground.
Representative Game
Korchnoi–Vaganian, Moscow 1971: A textbook demonstration of White’s pressure on the d-file eventually turning into a pleasant endgame edge.
Interesting Facts
- The move 5.exd6 earned the nickname “the dentist’s drill” in some Soviet texts—slow, persistent, and painful!
- Because the variation often heads to queenless middlegames, engines evaluate the positions as almost level, yet many grandmasters choose it to torture lower-rated opponents for 60-plus moves.
5…cxd6 6.Nc3 – Key Continuation in the Exchange Variation
Definition
After 5.exd6, Black recaptures with the c-pawn (5…cxd6), and White replies with the natural development 6.Nc3. The full move-order is:
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3.
Purpose of Each Move
- 5…cxd6 – By capturing with the c-pawn, Black keeps the e-pawn on e7 to support an eventual …e5 break and opens the c-file for rook activity.
- 6.Nc3 – White pressures the d5 and b5 squares, shores up the center (d5 break prevention), and accelerates kingside development (Nf3, Be2/Bd3, 0-0).
Strategic Ideas
- Black’s Setup Choices
- 6…g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 – King-side fianchetto, aiming for …Bg4 or …Nc6.
- 6…Nc6 – Immediate counter-punch, eyeing the d4 pawn and preparing …g6.
- 6…Bf5 – Less common, but places a piece actively before …e6 solidifies the dark squares.
- White’s Plans
- Place heavy pieces on the d-file to fix the d6 pawn as a target.
- Expand with b3 & Bb2 or g3 & Bg2 to contest Black’s bishops.
- Timely pawn breaks with c5 or d5 to exploit Black’s flexible but slightly loose structure.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Practical Examples
- Giri – Vachier-Lagrave, Wijk aan Zee 2012 – Black equalised comfortably with 6…g6 but later drifted; White’s squeeze on the d6 pawn eventually told.
- Karjakin – Adams, Tromsø Olympiad 2014 – Adams uncorked the rare 6…Bf5 and solved his opening problems quickly, highlighting the line’s flexibility.
Did You Know?
- Engines rate the position after 6.Nc3 as roughly equal (
≈), yet statistics show White scoring close to 55 % thanks to long-term pressure. - Because both sides often castle kingside and pawn storms are rare, endgames can appear as early as move 15—grandmasters sometimes steer here to test their opponent’s patience and technique.