Darthmambo wrote on 09/10/14 at 20:00:33:


I would recommend checking out http://www.chesspublishing.com/content/7/index.htm. There's also http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/blog/?p=2682 if you aren't willing to buy Avrukh's GM Repertoire book on the Slav (but it might well be the best single source on the Exchange Slav as he explains why he rejected other lines). 

The Exchange Slav might well be the most practical option against the Slav as there aren't many other Anti-Slav lines where you have a choice between killing the game and setting a lot of practical problems for the opponent, while fighting for the advantage. At some point you'll probably want to study the main lines (Chebanenko, Main Line Slav, Meran, Botvinnik/Anti-Moscow) though, just for the exposure to such rich positions.

ReneDescartes wrote on 09/11/14 at 15:02:48:


Some historical bits:  in the first (1980s) edition of that book, the coverage of the traditional main line (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cd cd 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6) essentially consisted of recommending 8. Ne5 and citing a game in which White got an advantage after 8...Nd7.  As far as I know, 8...Nxe5 9. Bxe5 Nd7 went from being considered weak in the 1970s to being considered best in the 1990s.          

katar wrote on 09/10/14 at 20:34:01:

ahum, this is a Caro Kann exchange, 3.c3 cxd4 4.cxd4 would be a Slav

I chose Exchange Slav when i switched to 1.d4 2.c4 at a couple tournaments because it cut out a lot of options for Black. In my case, i avoided Slav & Semislav completely so i could focus on Exchange QG, 4 Pawns Attack vs. KID/Benoni, and Nimzo-Indian.

The best resource on the subject that i know of is ChessLecture.com.  Jesse Kraai did a pretty thorough video series on the mainline Nf3/Nc3/Bf4 and Perelshteyn did several videos on early Bg5.  I don't know of any dedicated books, but if you are aiming for the mainline with Nf3 and Bf4 there is coverage of Exchange Slav in Lakdawala's Play the London System book and possibly other Colle/London texts that advise  to meet an early c5 with e3.  To be clear: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3/Bf4 c5 3.e3 cxd4 4.exd4 gets to an Exchange Slav from Colle/London move order.  There are other ways to play Exchange Slav such as Perelshteyn's Bg5 and variations with f2-f3.  You might also browse books intended for the opposing side and see what those books either don't cover adequately or what they consider most accurate by your side.   

Finally i would emphasize that the main appeal of this choice is to save time. So for that to actually work you have to avoid spending too much time on it.