Exchange Variation, Trifunovic Variation

The Trifunovic Variation branches from the Symmetrical Line of the Exchange Slav. Instead of trading light-squared bishops with 8. Bd3, White breaks the mirroring with 8. Qb3, aiming at b7. Black answers 8...Bb4, pinning the c3-knight in reply. The most frequent continuation is 9. Bb5, pinning the c6-knight in turn, and 9. Ne5 is the main alternative. Engines judge the position roughly balanced. The line is uncommon, and White scores somewhat better in online games.