The Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation is a variation of the Alekhine Defense, catalogued as ECO B03. The line runs 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Bf5 11. Bf4, reaching the position shown below after 21 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move after 11 moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Alekhine Defense generally: A provocative defense where Black invites White to advance pawns, then attacks the overextended center.
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The Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation goes 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Bf5 11. Bf4. It is a variation of the Alekhine Defense and is catalogued as ECO B03.
The Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation is ECO B03. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Alekhine Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Bf5 11. Bf4 at +0.50 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.