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French, Exchange (C01)
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5 4 Nc3 Nf6 5 Bg5

Number of games in database: 9568
Years covered: 1620 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 28.9%
   Black wins 30.2%
   Draws 40.9%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Normunds Miezis  119 games
Joseph Blackburne  51 games
Jacques Mieses  39 games
Evgeny Gleizerov  62 games
Wolfgang Uhlmann  47 games
Ivan Farago  46 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Spielmann vs R Wahle, 1926
Blackburne vs J Schwarz, 1881
Greco vs NN, 1620
Capablanca vs Alekhine, 1927
N Mannheimer vs A Nimzowitsch, 1930
W Winter vs Alekhine, 1936
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 page 1 of 383; games 1-25 of 9,568 
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Greco vs NN 1-0121620Miscellaneous gameC01 French, Exchange
2. Westminster CC vs Paris CC 0-1271834Correspondence gameC01 French, Exchange
3. Szen vs H Boncourt 0-1321836MatchC01 French, Exchange
4. von der Lasa vs K Schorn 1-0361838BerlinC01 French, Exchange
5. von der Lasa vs C Jaenisch 1-0411842Casual gameC01 French, Exchange
6. W Hanstein vs C Jaenisch  1-0391842Berlin m1C01 French, Exchange
7. W Hanstein vs C Jaenisch 1-0251842Berlin m1C01 French, Exchange
8. Staunton vs Saint-Amant 0-1301843Staunton - Saint-AmantC01 French, Exchange
9. C Stanley vs J Schulten  0-1451845Stanley - Schulten m(3)C01 French, Exchange
10. E Rousseau vs C Stanley 0-1661845Rousseau - StanleyC01 French, Exchange
11. E Rousseau vs C Stanley ½-½581845Rousseau - StanleyC01 French, Exchange
12. Harrwitz vs NN  1-0381846Casual gameC01 French, Exchange
13. J Schulten vs C Stanley  1-0361846Stanley - Schulten m(3)C01 French, Exchange
14. J Schulten vs C Stanley 0-1531846Stanley - Schulten m(3)C01 French, Exchange
15. J Schulten vs C Stanley  ½-½331846Stanley - Schulten m(3)C01 French, Exchange
16. Harrwitz vs H Buckle  0-1581847Casual gameC01 French, Exchange
17. Horwitz vs H Buckle  0-1281848Casual gameC01 French, Exchange
18. C Smith vs G Medley  0-1441848MatchC01 French, Exchange
19. Anderssen vs Harrwitz 0-1551848Anderssen - HarrwitzC01 French, Exchange
20. Kieseritzky vs H Buckle  ½-½391848MatchC01 French, Exchange
21. Kieseritzky vs H Buckle 1-0581848MatchC01 French, Exchange
22. Kieseritzky vs H Buckle 1-0401848MatchC01 French, Exchange
23. Kieseritzky vs H Buckle ½-½571848MatchC01 French, Exchange
24. J Medley vs W Tuckett  1-0331849Ries' Divan TournamentC01 French, Exchange
25. H Buckle vs J Medley  1-0531849Ries' Divan TournamentC01 French, Exchange
 page 1 of 383; games 1-25 of 9,568 
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 6 OF 6 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Mar-21-09  chessman95: <you obviously are not a great player>

Besides the fact that you're being extremely arrogant, really, who is great at chess? Chess as played by humans is basically a struggle to get as near as we can to optimal play, while keeping in mind the human qualities that enter our play.

And I don't in any way 'deny' that I'm not a 'great' player... I don't know anyone on cg.com who would (except maybe you from that last comment you made). Unless you're a GM or have a crazy amount of experience and knowledge that I don't have, then there's no reason for you to have to <show me some of the more subtle ideas of chess.>

Beleive me, we all have lots to learn about chess. If you take a few hours next week to study the Exchange French then you will 'learn' that it's really not as good as the other variations.

Mar-21-09  KingG: <FiveofSwords> Since you are telling other people that they are obviously not great players, why not tell us your rating so we can get an idea of how strong you are. Because based on your views on certain openings, particulalry the english, I wouldn't guess that you are a particularly great player yourself.
Mar-23-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  OBIT: On whether White can achieve good results with the Exchange Variation of the French Defense:

In club level play at least, you'll find that *Black* actually achieves a solid plus score in the Exchange French. That sounds paradoxical, but I think it is explained by the fact that a higher-rated player tends to avoid this variation against a lower-rated opponent, thinking something more unbalanced has to be played to avoid a drawish position.

In contrast, a lower-rated player sometimes plays the line against a higher-rated opponent to keep the position even, often hoping for a draw to pick up some rating points. But then, being the weaker player, the lower-rated player often gets outplayed anyway.

Mar-24-09  chessman95: <FiveofSwords> Since you seem to not be responding, and maybe need a bit of humbleness, why don't you silently watch this game and contemplate what it really means to be <good> at chess.

Anderssen vs Dufresne, 1852

Aug-12-09  whiteshark: Opening of the Day <French, Exchange <1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5>>


click for larger view

Opening Explorer

Aug-12-09  drukenknight: I am seeing this quite frequently and it seems the best way for black is to create a slav or semi slav (terms dont mean much as the e pawn is gone) formation with Q/B on c7/e6 there are some fun sacrifices involving the N on g4 to clear the way for the R on the h file. Got into one other day in blitz and the game deteriorated as amused spectators started to call out the moves! became more an analysis than a game.
Aug-12-09  drukenknight: Here is a nice example of what I am talking about above. If you like to play this you should study the piece placement and their interactions.

1. e4 e6
2. Bc4 d5
3. exd5 exd5
4. Bb3 Be6
5. Nf3 Nf6
6. h3 Bd6
7. O-O c6
8. d3 Nbd7
9. Re1 O-O
10. Nh2 Qc7
11. Nf3 h5 (the pawn usually goes here to hit the N but sort of wasted here)

12. Nd4

After 12 Nd4 Get ready for fireworks, this is a typical sort of set up:


click for larger view

12… Bh2+
13. Kh1 c5
14. Nb5 Qb8
15. g3 Bxg3
16. fxg3 Bxh3
17. Qe2 Qxg3
18. Rg1 Qh4
19. Qh2 Ng4and 0-1

After 19...Ng4 what went wrong?


click for larger view

Mar-06-11  Wyatt Gwyon: Every single time I've faced the exchange French while playing black I've felt that I had a psychological advantage. Invariably it's a lower ranked opponent on the other side of the board. White concedes, no way around it.
Mar-06-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Opening of the Day :
French, Exchange
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.♘c3 ♘f6 5.♗g5
Mar-06-11  SatelliteDan: I like 3 exd
Aug-29-11  rusich: chessman95, you are wrong with statistics about french exchange, mainly because you didn't look further in opening explorer where white gets a solid plus paying early c4.
Mar-23-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Opening of the Day

French, Exchange
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.♘c3 ♘f6 5.♗g5


click for larger view

Feb-16-13  Tigranny: I hate it when I play the French hoping to go into the Winawer but then I face the dull Exchange.
Jul-17-13  Tigranny: Another annoying move I run into other than the Exchange is 2.Nf3(?). No idea why White plays that move, just to transpose to the Exchange. Any thoughts?
Jul-17-13  TheFocus: <Tigranny>< I hate it when I play the French hoping to go into the Winawer but then I face the dull Exchange.>

In my experience, when White goes into the Exchange, it is usually because they are uncomfortable facing any French.

I feel that the advantage lies with Black in the Exchange. White really has to take chances to get an advantage. Usually this works in Black's favor.

I had a lot of draws in the French Exchange, a few wins, and no losses.

Jul-17-13  kdogphs: I agree with Tigranny and TheFocus... If someone plays 2) Nf3 usually I respond 2)...c5 going for a Kan or Taimanov Sicilian. Then they usually play the insipid 3) Bc4 though... I have done away with playing the French because of the Exchange and the Advance. The Pirc is a nice alternative to the French I've found.
Oct-11-13  Kikoman: <Opening of the Day>

French, Exchange
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5


click for larger view

Opening Explorer

May-03-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: If 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 there are no games in CG's database where ... Bd7 is played and no games where white play 6. Bxc6 to double up black's pawns.

Anyone have insights as to why? Is there a trap in that line?

May-03-15  Nerwal: <Anyone have insights as to why? Is there a trap in that line?> I guess not really a trap but it's important to set priorities right, and in openings development is often more important than dogma about structure. With 4. ♘f3 ♘c6 5. ♗b5 ♗d7 White is developing his kingside while Black is developing his queenside pieces. But Black isn't anywhere near castling queenside because there is no good square for the queen. So when White after 6. 0-0 starts playing in the center with moves like c4 and ♖e1+, Black will experience difficulties holding the position because the king still stands on the open e file and castling short is several moves away. After 5. ♗b5 ♗d6 6. ♗xc6+ bxc6 7. 0-0 it's a complete different story : Black's development is good, he can castle short quickly after ♘e7, he has the two bishops and they are very active, White isn't ready to attack the doubled pawns yet and Black can liquidate anyway by playing c5 at any time. That's why White usually tries to break the structure in a more effective manner by playing 6. c4 first.
May-03-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: <Nerwal> thank you.
Oct-09-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  gezafan: French players may want to experiment with the Lastrank Gambit: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 c5.

I've played it against the exchange French in bullet games with decent results . I doubt it's sound but it's interesting and fun (sometimes). In some variations black wants to trade queens even though he's a pawn down.

If anyone wants to experiment with the Lastrank Gambit I'd be interested in your results and impressions.

Nov-22-23  Messiah: lol the diagram does not reflect the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5
Sep-03-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  gezafan: <gezafan: French players may want to experiment with the Lastrank Gambit: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 c5.>

Has anybody tried this? I've had good results with it in bullet games.

Sep-04-24  FM David H. Levin: <gezafan: <gezafan: French players may want to experiment with the Lastrank Gambit: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 c5.>

Has anybody tried this? I've had good results with it in bullet games.>

I hadn't seen this gambit before, but my first thought was to try 4.Bb5+. One plausible continuation seems to be 4...Bd7 5.Bxd7+ Qxd7 6.dxe6 Qxe6+ 7.Ne2, when I don't think Black has nearly enough play for the pawn.

Sep-05-24  areknames: I played both sides of the French for years. As Black I didn't like facing the Tarrasch but was ok with the other variations, including obviously the Exchange. As White I was always happy to allow the Winaver but once made the mistake of playing the Exchange against a considerably higher ranked opponent and ended up losing in a drawn position. When you play such an inane opening I think strong French players can smell your fear and will punish you accordingly. I think even 2.b3 is a better option.
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