Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5

ECO D35

The Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation is a chess opening line in the Queen's Gambit Declined complex, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5.

It is catalogued under code D35 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move cxd5 is chosen by White on move 4.

5 named continuations branch from this position, including the Carlsen Variation and the Chameleon Variation.

The Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation is a line of the Queen's Gambit Declined. The Queen's Gambit Declined is a chess opening that begins 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. Read the complete Queen's Gambit Declined guide: what it is, how to reach it, its main variations, how to play against it, and its history.

Named variations

• Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Carlsen Variation — ECO D35
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Chameleon Variation — ECO D35
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Positional Variation — ECO D35
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Sämisch Variation — ECO D35
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Reshevsky Variation — ECO D36

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Opening Tricks Hall of Fame course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.