Theoria
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Ruy Lopez

Exchange, Alekhine Variation

C68positionalsolid

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bb5a6
  4. 4.Bxc6dxc6
  5. 5.d4exd4
  6. 6.Qxd4Qxd4
  7. 7.Nxd4Bd7
629 games43%46%

A queenless branch of the Ruy Lopez Exchange in which Black meets the early central trade with 7...Bd7, aiming for quick queenside castling.

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About the Alekhine Variation

The Alekhine Variation trades queens at once with 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4. Black answers with 7...Bd7, developing the bishop and preparing queenside castling. White has a kingside pawn majority, and Black has the bishop pair to offset the doubled c-pawns. Engines rate the position roughly level, and Black scores slightly better in practice. The main replies are 8. Nc3 and 8. Be3, while 8. O-O fares poorly for White.

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