- ECO code
- C01
- Moves
- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5
- Family
- French Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 413
- Average game length
- 43 moves
- Years covered
- 1848–2026
French Defense: Exchange Variation is the opening filed under ECO code C01, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5. It belongs to the French Defense family and is known as the Exchange Variation; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 413 games on this line — the 243rd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1848 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 212 games. An average game here lasts 43 moves.
White wins 29% of those games, 37% end in a draw, and Black wins 34%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 6 percentage points.
From this position the most popular move is 3...exd5, played in 409 games, followed by 3...Qxd5 (4). After 3...exd5 White scores 29% and Black 34%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Kramnik,V (18 games); on the Black side, Erigaisi,Arjun (30).
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Results in master games
- White 29% (120)
- Draws 37% (151)
- Black 34% (142)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3...exd5 | 409 | 29/37/34 | — |
| 3...Qxd5 | 4 | 50/0/50 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- French Defense · 1.e4 e6 · 6,176 games
- French Defense: Normal Variation · 1.e4 e6 2.d4 · 5,579 games
- French Defense · 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 · 5,533 games
Played most often by
As White
- Kramnik,V 18
- Carlsen,M 15
- Chigorin, Mikhail 15
As Black
- Erigaisi,Arjun 30
- Grischuk,A 23
- Rubinstein, Akiba 16
Games per decade
- 1840s 1
- 1850s 7
- 1860s 6
- 1870s 1
- 1880s 11
- 1890s 7
- 1900s 18
- 1910s 14
- 1920s 9
- 1930s 8
- 1940s 4
- 1950s 3
- 1960s 7
- 1970s 8
- 1980s 3
- 1990s 29
- 2000s 23
- 2010s 42
- 2020s 212
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galchenko,Matvey | Nakamura,Hi | 1-0 | 2026 | 2nd 3-0 Thu 12th Feb 2026 |
| Aarav,Dengla | Ivanchuk,V | 0-1 | 2026 | Naroditsky Mem Blitz 2026 |
| Kravtsiv,M | Erigaisi,Arjun | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 26th Mar 2026 |
| Kazakouski,Valery | Erigaisi,Arjun | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 19th May 2026 |
| Carlsen,M | Sargsyan,Shant | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Chess.com Open Playoffs |
| Bacrot,E | Aronian,L | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 6th Jan 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the French Defense: Exchange Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code C01, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5. It belongs to the French Defense family.
Is the French Defense: Exchange Variation good for White or for Black?
In 413 master games on this line White wins 29%, 37% are drawn and Black wins 34%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the French Defense: Exchange Variation?
3...exd5 — played in 409 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the French Defense: Exchange Variation?
On the White side Kramnik,V (18), Carlsen,M (15), Chigorin, Mikhail (15); on the Black side Erigaisi,Arjun (30), Grischuk,A (23), Rubinstein, Akiba (16).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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