Tips for the London?

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WowThisIsWeird

I'm learning the currently learning London System, doing it the same way I always do:

1. Watch a GothamChess 10-minute openings video about the corresponding opening if there is one available

2. Play the moves in the analysis board along with the video

3. Write down key points

4. Watch Hanging Pawns videos about the opening and (try) to memorize the variations

5. Play it against a bot! 

6. Play in a real game!

Any tips? Here's what I've learned so far:

After 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 Bd6, instead of trading the bishop right away, "slide", as gothamchess calls it, the bishop back to g3, so that upon black taking the bishop and hxg3, white's h-rook faces a nice open file.

If black plays Qe7 to help advance the e-pawn, play Ne5 to stop black from a)playing e5 and b)creating an equal position.

Try to attack the kingside after castling, bringing queen to attack, launching forward the f-pawn, and possibly bringing forward the knight.

Any tips? Please share anything you know about the London that is helpful! (that is not, for example, "the london is terrible" "london players are lazy" or something)

Batman2508

the london is bad why dont u play something better

Batman2508

with london you are fighting for a draw wink.png

Bestunknownplayer

London is fine. These baboons just find it boring. I’ll message you secret stuff that I found out.

WowThisIsWeird

ok thanks happy.png

EternallyBad
Bestunknownplayer wrote:

London is fine. These baboons just find it boring. I’ll message you secret stuff that I found out.

HEY IMA LONDON FAN TOO

FinnLippershey

If you play against a king's indian, a pirc, or a modern opening, you may want to create a battery with the queen and the bishop, castle queenside, and try to trade the fianchetto bishop to then attack down the h-file, this is also a very common idea in the dragon sicilian, you can search it as "150 attack".

DasBurner

Here are some tips if you really want to use it

Only play it against d5

If you play it against nf6, black can equalize immediately with 2. c5 and 3. qb6

Play e3 before playing nf3

The "London system" doesn't require nf3 (As you'll find out if you watch the Hanging Pawns series). Playing nf3 is too slow as there is a particular line that lets black have a comfortable game after wasting a tempo on nf3. Play e3 first to avoid that

Race to the d3 square

Annoying players will try to play bf5 very early to prevent you from going bd3. This is another reason to play e3 first:

And white seizes an initiative straight away. DO NOT PLAY G4 IF BLACK PLAYS NF6 BEFORE BF5. If black plays e6 before playing the bishop out, play bd3 and enjoy the nice placement

As for Gotham's recommendation, you can try sliding the bishop back to g3 but I'm not a fan. The trade just makes the structure awful and any good players will know how to defend from the open file

DasBurner

and I'm just going to delete the Baboon comments

Bestunknownplayer

O k

Bestunknownplayer

London is so structurally good for both sides, so it really comes down to who makes more mistakes hehe.

assassin3752

if you wanna play the london then play the jobava london system

FinnLippershey

You should look up to the Steinitz Countergambit too, because since Eric Rosen made a video about it, everyone is playing it against the London, also study what to do against the Englund gambit.

BellaAndRosie

Lol the London was my first proper opening that I learnt and It has got me like all my rating points

Batman2508

I've played 1.e4 all the time and had great success with it

ninjaswat

Meh I just play d4 Bf4 and play chess...

DasBurner
ninjaswat wrote:

Meh I just play d4 Bf4 and play chess...

wait you play London???? Have you not seen my Colle games??

DasBurner
Tad2721 wrote:

London is bad. Danish Gambit is better IMO

Danish gambit is literally refuted o______o

assassin3752
Tad2721 wrote:
DaBabysBurner wrote:
Tad2721 wrote:

London is bad. Danish Gambit is better IMO

Danish gambit is literally refuted o______o

Danish Gambit is good. Some gambits automatically lose, Danish is aggresive but sound

danish gambit is good and i like the danish gambit that is when im black

assassin3752
Tad2721 wrote:
darkbrah7654 wrote:
Tad2721 wrote:
DaBabysBurner wrote:
Tad2721 wrote:

London is bad. Danish Gambit is better IMO

Danish gambit is literally refuted o______o

Danish Gambit is good. Some gambits automatically lose, Danish is aggresive but sound

danish gambit is good and i like the danish gambit that is when im black

Wrong

right