French Defense: Exchange Variation, Bogoljubow Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
10,495 games: White 49.2% / Draw 4.8% / Black 46.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 4,2384,238 | ||
| 2,8402,840 | ||
| 1,1171,117 | ||
| 689689 | ||
| 446446 | ||
| 340340 | ||
| 184184 | ||
| 177177 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.07 The position is about equal
Best play: 6. Bb5 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O h6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Bxc6 bxc6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
French Defense: Exchange Variation, Bogoljubow Variation (ECO C01, Open Games) is a variation of the French Defense: Exchange Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Nc6 (5 moves).
In 10,495 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.2%, Black 46.0% and 4.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nf3, in 40% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the French Defense: Exchange Variation, Bogoljubow Variation
6. Bxf6 scores best for White: 52.7%, with White winning 50.0% and Black 44.6% of 1,117 games. The most played, 6. Nf3, scores 52.4% in 4,238 games, and 6. Qe2+ scores lowest: 51.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 6. Bb5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Exchange Variation, Bogoljubow Variation (C01)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-exchange-variation-bogoljubow-variation