The London System is for Chumps ?

White has many options to keep an even game by playing a Reversed System with the white pieces.  A Reversed Slav, or London System, is just one example.

White should always get at least an even game in the opening.  That's not an ambitious goal, but can be useful if you want to "bypass" the first 20 moves of your game, and instead concentrate on your middlegame and endgame practice.

So in this Game in 15/5 below, my opponent believed he was "on the attack" with the black pieces.  Until he wasn't.

Perhaps my 9) Qg3 was dubious, but I spotted a tactic that my agressive opponent (apparently) overlooked.  Seems he was entirely too focused on the e5 pawn break, and believed he was still "pressuring" my perfectly sound position.

After the dust settled, he simply abandoned the game.  Whatever.

Arguably, the "best" opening system is the one you know, and your opponent doesn't.  Build up a decent (and simple) repetoire starting with the black side, then simple turn this system around, and your initial opening system work for the white pieces is effectively done.  Very simple.

White has dozens of easy-to-learn Reversed Systems to choose from.  Under USCF 1800, this is a VERY safe and simple way of enjoying your chess at Game in 10/5 up to Game in 60/5, yet still keep improving (through focused and judicious study) in the other two phases of the royal game.  Not studying white-side opening theory (at least initially), provides you with an IMMENSE amount of study time to foucus on middlegame and endgames, tactics and strategies.  Very simple.

Nothing Fancy, in the game below.

Black is faced with losing at least a piece, with 11)...Be5,  12) BxBe5, NxBe5  13) QxNe5 with a winning advantage for white.  Otherwise, Black will lose his queen for a Bishop.

Personally, I prefer endgames.

IMHO, Chess Openings are like a blizzard of "choreographed dance moves," built up over 500 years of study by Chess Masters, CC players, and more recently chess engines.

Instead of this blizzard, just give me a level position after 20 moves, thematic knowledge of the characteristic middlegame, and a modicum of endgame technique.  Then, I'm as happy as a clam.   

Compare, Win with the London System, by Kovacevic and Johnsen, Gambit Publications (2005).  Imbibe (and know cold) this book of less than 180 pages, and you're ready to go with the White pieces.  

I almost always steer for the endgame.  Except when my opponent is clueless about how to play the black pieces against a Reversed Slav system (from the white side).

Indeed, in about one of every 30 games (using a Reversed Slav), white gets the kind of attack shown below.

Nonetheless, I still prefer endgames.

Game in 15/5. Black resigned at move #23.

Playing "defense" with the white pieces is the easiest way to get a decent 40-60 move game.  I recommend using Reversed Opening systems (with white) to anyone who will listen. 

The safest and simplest "formation" that I am aware of is a Reversed Schlecter Grunfeld.  Do a kingside fianchetto, pawns on c3 and d4, Knight on f3, and castle kingside.  VERY simple.

That particular "reversed formation" requires no specialized chess knowledge, (unlike the English, or KIA).  But you should almost always get a decent game from the white side, without the headaches associated with studying lots of openings, or deep variations within openings.

Just a thought.  Feel free to disregard everything I have asserted. 

And, Best Wishes to All.

Considering the London System is used by super grandmasters and Magnus Carlsen, I'd say the London System is pretty solid.