Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation

In the Exchange Variation, Black recaptures on d5 with the queen instead of trying 3...Nb4. The resulting position is also reached from the Scandinavian Defense via 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. d4 Nc6, so players from either opening meet it. The queen on d5 and the knight on c6 both bear down on d4. With only the queen defending it, White's next move usually deals with that pressure. Black can then aim for ...e5 or play against the isolated d-pawn on the half-open d-file, and the e-file is also open.

The most common reply, 4. Nf3, protects d4 with a developing move. The engine's other preferences, 4. Ne2 and 4. Be3, have the same aim. 4. c3 gives the pawn solid support. 4. Nc3, the Marshall Gambit, gains a tempo on the queen but leaves d4 to be taken. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced. Results in practice are close to even, with a slight edge for White after 4. Nf3 and for Black after 4. Nc3 and 4. c3.