Classical Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation

The Delayed Exchange Variation arises when White answers the Classical French, 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6, with 4. exd5. White neither closes the center with 4. e5 nor pins with 4. Bg5, and instead resolves the pressure on e4 immediately. The exchange comes a move later than in the ordinary Exchange French, after both sides have developed a knight. It is one of the less common fourth moves, and the engine rates the position as level.

Black has three replies of note. The most frequent is 4...exd5. It gives the symmetrical pawn structure of the Exchange French, with the e-file open and the c8-bishop no longer blocked by its own pawn. On Lichess Black scores slightly better than White after this recapture. The second choice, 4...Nxd5, keeps the pawn on e6 and concedes White a d4-pawn against e6, with more central space for White; results here favor White. A rarer option is 4...Bb4. It pins the c3-knight before Black recaptures and lends the game a Winawer-like character, and White has scored well against it.