I am exploring a semi-novel idea in the London system, where I play 2...b5!? after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4
A main line goes 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.e3 and now:
4...a6 5.Bd3 e6 or Nh5 4...a6 5.c4 bxc4/b4 4...b4 5.Bd3 e6/Nh5/c5 4...b4 5. a3 a5
The order in which White plays Nf3 and e3 is interchangeable.
2...b5 is worth exploring, and would be interesting to see outside of blitz games at the top level. White may finally start to get out of their comfort zone with a non-standard pawn structure and black activity.
Based off of Caruana vs Vachier-Lagrave 2018 1/2-1/2, (blitz)
Where White may decide to go on autopilot with the standard Nbd2, h3, 0-0. However, I believe that black's option to either attack the queenside or preserve the LSB is a powerful counter to the London's boredom.
As with any rare line, there is a lack of games and they are not exactly uniform. To simulate new games (let's say 100), I propose letting two engines play each other from the starting position after the second move. Local computer would probably explode if I tried to do this, which is why I am asking if it can be done on the cloud. What would be the best way to do this?
cutechess-cli
, the command line program instead. See here for the details on how to use. Let me know if you have any questions.