Exchange Variation, Reshevsky Variation

The Reshevsky Variation arises after 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2, with White bringing the queen out before playing e3. The main line plays 6. e3, after which Black can answer 6...Bf5 and, after 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6, reach an endgame that many White players find unappealing. Putting the queen on c2 first covers f5 along the b1-h7 diagonal and so discourages the bishop development that the exchange on d5 has just made possible. Otherwise the queen goes where it usually ends up in the main line anyway, and play frequently transposes back to the standard Carlsbad positions with e3, Bd3 and either Nf3 or Nge2. The minority attack and the central advance both remain available.

Black most often replies 6...Be7, which breaks the pin and prepares castling. The alternatives 6...Bd6 and 6...h6 are less common. The engine assesses the position as close to equal, and White scores somewhat better than Black in practice. The variation is a moderately common option rather than a main battleground.