⚔️ Opening of the Week #4: The London System

Hello Everyone,

This week’s opening is the London System – an opening loved by beginners and grandmasters alike.

📖 The Basics

It starts with:

1. d4 → solid center

2. Nf3 → development

3. Bf4 (or Bg5) → bishop outside the pawn chain

4. e3 → build the “London triangle” (pawns on c3, d4, e3)

Your setup is usually:

Pawns: c3, d4, e3

Knights: Nf3, Nd2

Bishop: Bf4 (or Bg5)

Castle short

🎯 Why Play the London?

Solid & Safe: Hard to break early.

Low Theory: You don’t need to memorize long lines.

Flexible: Can lead to attacks on the kingside OR positional games.

Annoying for Opponents: Many hate facing it because it’s hard to crack.

⚡ Plans & Ideas

Attack on the kingside with h4–h5 or Ne5.

Use the “London battery”: Qf3 + Bd3 aiming at h7.

Push c4 at the right time to challenge Black’s center.

🪤 A Sneaky Trap

After 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Qb6??

👉 6. dxc5! Qxb2?? 7. Rb1 wins the queen 💀

🏆 Challenge

Try playing at least 2 London games this week and share your wins (or funny losses) here in the forum.

Chess Marshals