It is not dead or boring, it is rich with possibilities for both sides.
Here is an example:
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044326
When looking for ideas you may also study games with the exchange variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, as 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 and 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 cxd5 exd5. It is the same structure, but colors reversed and an extra tempo.
if you enjoy space and dynamic positions this makes me think the Caro-Kann is possibly one of the worst openings you can plau
indeed. I would watch Gotham Chess and how he plays this. He is one of the few IM & YouTube Chess personalities that plays how I would play vs the Exchange Variation. 👍🏼
indeed2. The Main aim on Defense is to Equalize. This not an Opinion but a Fact. Unless your opponent outright blunders, you will have to grind.
ok@ConfusedGhost~name one 1. e4 Defense that gives you "Space & Dynamism" right off the bat?
Dutch and Sicilian can give dynamism but there isn't much space, Blumenfeld Gambit although unsound gives both. no Black opening is perfect but the Caro-Kann is often cramped and Black has often passive pieces which is what the OP wants to avoid
Then black has two clear possible plans:
- pawn to e6, knight to e5, king to h8, rook to g8... Now black has potential for a kingside attack.
- also still possible: queenside minority attack.
I also will kingside fianchetto against the exchange+ Panov-Botvinnik attack.
So the kingside fianchetto can be a useful "universal" response to white whenever they play the exchange.
Isn't Gata Kamsky a proponent of fianchettoing in the caro kann? Also the slav?
It is not dead or boring, it is rich with possibilities for both sides.
Here is an example:
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044326
When looking for ideas you may also study games with the exchange variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, as 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 and 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 cxd5 exd5. It is the same structure, but colors reversed and an extra tempo.
Thank you! I'll research a little on that end to help my understand a little bit more about the complexity of the position.
Then black has two clear possible plans:
- pawn to e6, knight to e5, king to h8, rook to g8... Now black has potential for a kingside attack.
- also still possible: queenside minority attack.
I also will kingside fianchetto against the exchange+ Panov-Botvinnik attack.
So the kingside fianchetto can be a useful "universal" response to white whenever they play the exchange.
Thank you so much! With these few idea's I feel like I can freshing up my game a little bit. I never fiancetto my bishop I always feels like it locks in my light square bishop. Maybe I can trade it for a knight to make it a little better? As well as the trading for a pawn on F5 has alwats been a fun structure play with however the E5 knight normally became an absolute headache so I deemed it unsound. But since you are reinforcing this I'm excited to give it a try again.
Thank you so much! With these few idea's I feel like I can freshing up my game a little bit. I never fiancetto my bishop I always feels like it locks in my light square bishop. Maybe I can trade it for a knight to make it a little better? As well as the trading for a pawn on F5 has alwats been a fun structure play with however the E5 knight normally became an absolute headache so I deemed it unsound. But since you are reinforcing this I'm excited to give it a try again.
Trading your bishop for a knight on f3 is also playable.
Usually Bg4 is first choice, and Bf5 is there as a second option.
Also regarding a white knight on e5: depending on the position, black can either exchange away the knight (... NxNe5), chase it away with f7-f6, or ignore it and play around it.
This structure can seem tricky at first, but it gets more familiar the more you play it. Best of luck, if you choose to use it. 
I play the Caro as black, and I like facing the exchange variation. It seems like an unambitious way for white to play.
I've had pretty good results with 5... Qc7, as recommended by Schandorff. It stops white's Bf4.
indeed. @CG I specifically asked, "what 1. e4 Defense" but ok for 1. d4, Dutch & Blumenfeld are good examples.
Just study the typical Queen's gambit declined exchange variation positions. Strategically there are a lot of similarities, save some lines where Black plays an early ...e5 and alters the pawn structure.
indeed. For a CK player, we Invite Aggressive moves. If you ever played the Black side of a Ruy Lopez, please tell me if the pieces are passive or active. I would like to know from a different perspective because as I said earlier, you have to grind when on Defense. Any 1. e4 Defense.
However, when a player the exchange caro-kann it’s so dead equal and boring. I have no ambition to play and not sure if interesting game plans or ways to make it imbalanced.
My typical mindsets are exchanging the light square bishop for a knight and attempting a minority attack in the queen side.