Richter-Rauzer Variation, Exchange Variation

The Exchange Variation of the Richter-Rauzer has White trade knights on c6 immediately after 6...e6, instead of the usual 7. Qd2. Black almost always recaptures 7...bxc6. That gives Black a compact pawn group on c6, d6 and e6 and a half-open b-file, while White keeps pressure along the d-file and the pin on f6. The line is rarely played. The engine rates it as roughly balanced, and Black has scored well in the available games.