Ruy Lopez Exchange +

Are you bored of the same old Ruy Lopez lines? If so, your in the right place. I play the Ruy Lopez exchange variation but I play it a bit differently than most. I like to trade queens(if possible) and go more or less into the endgame.

This variation gives white more control of the center and slight advantage on the king side, due to a 4 to 3 majority. However the same can be said for black on the queen side, but black's extra pawn is double and can be hard to use. Typically in this position I find it good to get black's bishop because it's an open position and bishops thrive in open positions. Trading rooks and going into a minor piece endgame can be tough, but if that's your thing you should go for it. I castle king side because if all the pieces get traded I want my king to be playing on the side where I have an advantage.  It's worth noting that this doesn't work against 4.bxc3 or the Berlin defense, 3. Nf6. If they play a Berlin it's best to know a bit about that line as far as basic theory as it's the best way to respond to it. If you don't like theory can go for a line similar to the first one.

As you may have noticed in the lines above. If white ends up with a dark squared bishop, he can attack the c7 pawn to buy time or win a pawn. Against 4.bxc3 I have no advice to give, as it is quite uncommon and not as strong as 4.dxc3.