Openings · 2 min read
The London System: one setup against almost everything
The London System is a setup more than a line: d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, c3, Bd3, Nbd2 and short castling, against nearly anything. It is light on theory, and games are won in the middlegame.
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1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bg3 O-O
A standard London position. The bishop stays on the b8-h2 diagonal, and White goes on with Nbd2, Bd3 and c3.
White's two plans
- Kingside attack: Ne5, f4 and a rook lift, with Bxh7+ ideas against a castled king.
- Central break: c4, reaching a Queen's Gambit structure.
Black's most testing tries
An early ...c5 with ...Qb6 hits b2 and d4 together; Qb3 or Qc2 guards b2. Against ...g6 and ...Bg7, the bishop on f4 has little to aim at.
Key takeaways
- Ne5 with Bd3 is the attacking plan; c4 is the central one.
- Know your answer to ...c5 and ...Qb6 before a tournament game.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the London System good?
- Yes. The London System is sound and reaches a playable middlegame every game. It rarely gives a large opening advantage, and teaches fewer structures than main-line 1.d4.
Practise the related tactics
The ideas behind this
- Pawn Structure MemoryRemember the pawn shape an opening leaves. The plans come with it.
- TranspositionsThe same position, reached by a different order of moves.
- ProphylaxisStop your opponent's plan before it starts.