Questions tagged [london-system]
Opening system that begins with the moves 1.d4 and 2.Bf4 (white) or 2.Nf3 & 3.Bf4 (black).
37 questions
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Tricky response against the London system
I am 1900 chess.com rapid player. I am looking for some opening recommendations with black against the London. I find myself struggling to reach positions that suit my style.
I am genuinely tired of ...
- 249
1
vote
1
answer
229
views
Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System
I played the following game of chess with the black pieces with a friend of mine (we didn't use any clocks, but it lasted about twenty minutes.).
As far as I know, the opening is known as "Queen'...
user38125
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
In the London, after 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.dxc5 Nc6 4.Nf3, why is "blocking your bishop" the best move
In this situation:
[FEN ""]
[StartFlipped "1"]
[StartPly "7"]
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.dxc5 Nc6 4.Nf3
Stockfish 16 really does not value getting the bishop out (Bg4 and Bf5 ...
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why is move 12 a blunder for both sides?
I have trouble understanding why move 12 for both sides was such a blunder? Evaluation went roughly from -1 to -6 and back to -1.3. The engine suggests 12... Ne4. I understand that e4 is a good ...
- 349
0
votes
1
answer
109
views
What's the positional threat in this opening of the London?
In a London system course, when explaining the following line, the author mentions that with 4.Ne5 "White is creating a big positional threat of Nxg4."
[FEN ""]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3....
- 629
0
votes
2
answers
203
views
London system move order nuances Qb6 without Nc6
In the London system, playing early Nd2 is recommended to react against Qb6. For example if we take this move order
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 Qb6 6....
- 2,798
8
votes
2
answers
3k
views
I can play the London system exclusively up to what rating?
There are many GMs who sometimes play the London system, but none of them play it exclusively. By "exclusively" I mean play it in over 99% of my games when I'm White, I mean adopting the ...
- 4,924
4
votes
1
answer
141
views
London system plan against Qxb6 when white has time to go a3 and Rc1 getting out of pin
In the London system where white doesn't develop the b1 knight early the Qxb6 followed by a3 is considered a mistake due to the following sequence
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. ...
- 2,798
6
votes
1
answer
117
views
What are the cases in which is good to take Qb3 in "London System'sSH" setups and why
I know that the main idea against London System is to play Qb6 to attack the b2 pawn which is unprotected due to the early Bf4 white plays (generally) at move 2. Normally white reacts to the threat ...
- 275
0
votes
2
answers
216
views
What are the White plans in this "copycat" line in the Jobava London?
In the last round of last month's 4th EJCOA IM Norm tournament this interesting game was played. White plays the Jobava London and Black plays the "copycat" line with 4...Bf5. Black then ...
- 100k
3
votes
1
answer
186
views
Literature on Accelerated London system
I (beginner) have been trying to shift from Philidor Defense (I still play it for Black) to the Accelerated London System for Blitz and Rapid. For eg:
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 ...
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How do you deal with Black's light-squared bishop when it's out of the pawn chain and not exchanged in the London?
I usually have problems with the light-squared bishop when Black takes it out of the pawn chain and doesn't exchange it, but instead either protects it with the e-pawn:
rn1qkb1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/3p1b2/...
- 629
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to deal with Black's dark-squared bishop on d6 in the London system
I have problems when black places his bishop on d6 in the London. Take for instance the following game:
r1bq1rk1/p2n1ppp/2n1p3/1p1pP3/2p5/2P1P1B1/PPBN1PPP/R2QK2R w KQ - 1 12
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 { D00 ...
- 629
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Playing f6 against a London
I have a question about playing f6 into a London system, it is said to be a good move here:
and i understand it, you threaten e5 which is annoying for white.
But why is it not a good move here:
...
2
votes
1
answer
91
views
Poison Qb2 and prerequisites for Vaganian
What does black achieve with 1.d4 c6?
Contributor mentions 1. d4 c6 2. Bf4 Qb6. Database shows few such openings, all responding 3.b3 with white winning no matches. Should white offer Qxb2 poison? ...
- 21
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
London system move order
The standard London System consists of the setup moves: d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, Nbd2, c3, Bd3. I'm wondering about the nuances of what the most accurate move order is to play it in. Here are some of my ...
- 1,977
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why is h4 much better than h3?
rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
[Event "Rated Rapid game"]
[Date "2021.08.09"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[TimeControl &...
- 675
13
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why are side pawns better than center pawns in this position?
So center pawns are usually regarded as more powerful than side pawns, which is why I have a question about this position.
After 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 the engine and theory recommend playing 3. e3 to ...
- 131
-2
votes
2
answers
638
views
Is the London system a good chess opening for beginners?
Is the London System opening is a good opening to invest on for getting deep on its variation for a beginner player (rank 1000-1100)? actually I heard it's a boring and systemical opening and for ...
- 105
5
votes
3
answers
154
views
Carlsen - Ghaem, why does Black want to do e5?
I am watching videos about the London system, and one example they use is this game.
[Title "Carlsen-Ghaem, Baku 2016"]
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Bg3 c5 ...
- 629
20
votes
7
answers
24k
views
Why does the London System have the reputation it has?
After being out of chess for many years, I became interested again. While I never studied in my earlier playing days, I always played e4 openings when white. That was partly due to that being ...
- 3,277
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is there a horizontally mirrored London System, and what is it called?
London System is an opening for white, that goes d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, Nd2, c3. The move order generally doesn't matter too much and there are lots of ways to transpose into this.
However, what I want to ...
- 759
4
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Meeting d4-d6 from White's perspective
How do you meet d4-d6 when your opponent doesn’t play the Old Indian, and the setup is d6-Nbd7-e5, which is Pirc territory?
[fen ""]
1. d4 d6 2. null Nd7 3. null e5
When this happens, can I play ...
- 119
16
votes
4
answers
29k
views
Can black play the London system?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3, Black usually plays Nf6 or e6 (which blocks his light-square bishop) and I wonder if it is possible for him to adopt the ideas from the London System and play Bf5 ...
- 9,299
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why is c4 bad when playing the London against a King's Indian?
Recently I (rated ~1900 "classical" on Lichess) played the following opening:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Nbd2 d6 6.c4
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/3p1np1/8/2PP1B2/4PN2/PP1N1PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - ...
- 712
3
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Traps in the Jobava Attack
Are there any known early tactical traps in the so-called Jobava Attack (1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4) for both sides? Leaving out the Barry Attack (early g6 by Black).
- 6,846
6
votes
1
answer
3k
views
On the Mason Attack
What are the main points, tactical or otherwise, backing up the Mason Attack?
I got the idea reading about the London System, but the Lichess engine calls it "Mason Attack". It starts out as follows:
...
- 163
8
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How to reply to an early c5 in the London System?
I've played the London System for about 3 months and am liking it a lot, however I have run across several games where Black played a weird, but good, move early in the opening, c5.
Example:
d4 d5
...
- 187
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
London System with Nc3 -- what's the idea?
Recently top GMs are playing a London system type setup with Nc3 before c4. I can't imagine they are going for cheap tricks with Nb5, but I am not seeing a valid positional idea behind the move ...
- 6,111
3
votes
2
answers
749
views
Can you recommend a dynamic, concrete, or easy-to-play line against the London System?
I hate playing against the London because it allows 800 FIDE rated players to survive for 50+ moves.
By the way, I play the Grunfeld against d4, the Sicilian Najdorf against e4, and the triangle ...
- 752
6
votes
6
answers
1k
views
The London System
I'm rated on Chess.com in 1400 right now (elo). But sometimes my rating fluctuates between 1200 to 1500. As I searched on internet, I'm a beginner that is going to the intermediate level. Should I, as ...
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
London System as White: exchange of the light-squared bishops
The following is a position that frequently arises in my games when I play the London System as White:
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 Bf5
At this point I am unable to place my light-squared ...
- 1,133
4
votes
2
answers
353
views
How to play against bad bishop outside pawn chain
I'm trying to understand general principles and common themes on how to play against a bad bishop outside of the pawn chain. In particular, I'm talking about the less sharp variations of the london ...
- 183
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Knight to h5 in the london system
In the London system, white wants to keep their dark squared bishop,
Therefore after say 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4, black can play 3...Nh5, doesn't it break white's position?
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. ...
- 61
5
votes
3
answers
5k
views
London System: how to defeat copying moves?
I played the London system for the first time today and encountered a problem in my second game (I won my first).
[fen "rn1qkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3p1b2/3P1B2/5N2/PPP1PPPP/RN1QKB1R w KQkq - 4 4"]
What is ...
- 51
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Battling the London System
I seem to have fairly good success against the London system and the Colle using the Queen's Indian defense. Has there been any games at the Senior master level where the Queen's Indian has been used?
- 19
35
votes
18
answers
46k
views
The London System: Can it be broken?
I've faced the London System several times so far, and just don't know what strategy to adapt against it (I exclusively play Nf6 in response to 1.d4). I'm a highly tactical player, so I try following ...
- 4,634