The Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation is a variation of the King's Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E61. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on e5. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; the d-file file is fully open.
On the King's Indian Defense generally: A hypermodern defense where Black allows White to build a big center, then counterattacks it.
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The Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5. It is a variation of the King's Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E61.
The Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation is ECO E61. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5 at +0.11 at depth 18, which is balanced. 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.
Black holds the centre with pawns on e5. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; the d-file file is fully open.