The London System : A Full Overview
Hello everyone! Welcome back to My Chess Blog once again!
- What is the London System?
The London System is a popular Queen’s Pawn opening in chess. The idea behind the London System is that White defines a scheme for development and sticks to it, virtually regardless of what Black plays.
This means that theory is not as important in a “system” opening like this one and that the ideas do not vary much from one variation to the other. The London System has a reputation for being extremely solid, and it can often be a great way to beat set defences against 1.d4. It’s also a “fan favourite”.
The London System is a solid choice due to the fact that black has limited and predictable responses to the opening. Black’s two choices are to back out of the opening (NOT RESIGNING) or to play with the devil and go along with it. Let’s leave the praise and jump right into it, shall we?
- How To Reach the London
d4. The Queen’s Pawn opening begins the London but the signature move in the London is Bf4. Some players might choose to go with Kf3 first before Bf4 but regardless Bf4 is the mark of the London.
12 ply or 6 moves later we have reached a classic London position. Believe it or not, we have a +0.6 — +0.9 advantage according to the engine (engines may differ). I know at the end of the day we can't take the engine’s word hook, line and sinker but it is comforting to know.
I want to tackle the main ideas of the London before Black’s responses.
- The Main Ideas of The London System
d4. We start with the move d4, the Accelerated London System. If black responds with d5 or Nf6 we can play into the London system.
I would suggest going for Kf3 first before e3 (blocking your Bishop out). As long as your bishop has an eye on the d6 and e5 diagonal, it should be easy. If Black chooses to trade the Black Bishops, play Bg3. When Black takes, play hxg3 to open your rook. Then you can advance the doubled pawns later. Look at the image below.
1 d4 d5. 2 Bf4 Kf6 3. Kf3 e6 4. e3 d6.
The trade between Black’s dark-squared bishop and your dark-squared bishop is unlikely to happen this early into the game but if it does, play Bg3 when they take back with hxg3 (we always want to keep our pawns off the edges) or use your better judgement. The trade is common most times. It might even occur during the middlegame. When it occurs doesn't really matter. Just make sure your dark-squared Bishop is on g3 when it is threatened by your opponent’s dark-squared Bishop.
I have highlighted your choice of next steps which I will discuss. If Black decides to trade Bishops, take with h3 and push on the Kingside. It's already too late for Black to bring out his light-squared Bishop so Bd3 is a sensible move. Kb to d2 is another choice but it has no immediate impact and if Black castles it is suggested to apply opposite-side castling. And you should be ready to go.
We know what to do in this situation. Another default move in The London is c5:c3. That line should be second nature to you.
- The London Against the King’s Indian
This is the main idea of how to play against the King’s Indian. Opposing castling, centering of pawns and advancing on the Kingside are ways to attack Black’s position. This or a similar position will be reached. White is completely winning throughout this. You can aim to bring your knights closer to the king to launch an attack, as well as push your pawns. Swinging the rook around is another option.
- Jobava London System
The Jobava London System is a dynamic and aggressive variation of the London, characterized by the early fianchetto of the light-squared bishop on g2. This opening often leads to sharp and tactical positions, favouring players who enjoy attacking chess
- d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. Bg3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. h3 a5 8. Nd2 c6 9. f4
For example…
Rapport vs Getz
- Fianchetto London System
The Fianchetto London System is another popular variation of the London System, characterized by the fianchetto of the dark-squared bishop on f4. This opening is known for its solid and flexible setup, making it a suitable choice for players who prefer positional warfare.
Recommended moves for White:
- d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. h3 a5 8. a4 e5 9. Bb3
I did not speak much about the Jobava and Fianchetto because you won’t see it as a good choice to start with. Maybe when you are experimenting you might like to try these variations after you are comfortable with the Main Line.
A general sense of the positions in these variations and a good amount of knowledge and experience in the Main Line will make you a solid London player and a good d4 player in general.
- Famous Games In The London
Vishy Anand vs Veselin Topalov, World Chess Championship 2010
This game is a great example of how White can use the London System to build up a solid advantage and eventually win. Anand played this game in a very precise and controlled manner, and he was able to exploit Topalov’s mistakes to his advantage. The study also contains other games he played that will be beneficial to understanding d4 games.
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, Tata Steel Masters 2011
This match demonstrates how White can use the London to create attacking opportunities against the Black King’s Indian Defense. I recommend it for players who want to prepare for the King’s Indian. Magnus Carlsen played this game in a very aggressive style, and he was able to put Nakamura under a lot of pressure from the very beginning.
Fabiano Caruana vs Sergey Karjakin, Candidates Tournament 2016
Caruana vs Karjakin is a masterclass on how White can use the London to play a solid and positional game. The London System usually leads to closed positions and Caruana played this game in a very precise and careful manner. He was able to grind down Karjakin and eventually win the game.
The London System is a robust and reliable weapon in a chess player’s arsenal. Yes, even for you, my fellow beginners. Its systematic approach allows for a solid and strategic game, making it an excellent choice, particularly for those facing set defences against 1. d4. The London System’s simplicity and limited, predictable responses from Black’s contribute to its popularity among players of varying skill levels. My examples testify to that.
Remember: NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU READ, THE BEST WAY TO GET BETTER IS TO PLAY THE GAME.
Practice may not make perfect but it certainly makes better.
- Glossary
1. Queen’s Pawn Opening :
An opening that begins with 1. d4, leading to positions where White aims to control the centre with the pawn on d4.
2. System Opening :
An opening strategy where a player follows a set plan or scheme of development, often regardless of the opponent’s moves.
3. Opposite-Side Castling :
When one player castles kingside, and the other castles queenside, creating opposite pawn structures and often leading to an intense, dynamic game.
4. Advantage (in terms of engine evaluation)
Positive numbers indicate an advantage for White, while negative numbers indicate an advantage for Black. The magnitude of the number reflects the perceived strength of the advantage. Examples are +2.3 or -1.
5. Accelerated London System :
A variation of the London System where White aims to reach typical London System positions more quickly, often involving an early king’s knight move.
6. Pawn Structure :
The arrangement of pawns on the chessboard, which greatly influences the strategic aspects of the game.
7. Opposing Castling :
When both players castle on opposite sides of the board, often leading to aggressive and tactical positions.
8. Dynamic :
Refers to a position or playstyle characterized by active and aggressive moves, often involving rapid piece mobilization.
Some of the chess images and ideas are attributed to this study Here are some other studies you can check out on the same opening.
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Thank you for reading!
