Forums

Choosing between London System and Queen s' Gambit?

Sort:
PRI-25052618
PRI-25052618
Closed: Inactive
Nov 24, 2015
0
#1

i have been studying both of them for quite of a time. what do you think is better? the London System or Queen s' Gambit? i have Positional/Solid Style.

kindaspongey
kindaspongey
Nov 24, 2015
0
#2

There is no question that the Queen's Gambit gets much more respect at the higher levels. However, the best for you depends a lot on your personal circumstances. Here are some books to help, either way:

A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White by John Watson (2012). Playing 1.d4 by Lars Schandorff (2012). The Kaufman Repertoire for Black & White by Larry Kaufman (2012).

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627105428/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen161.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626221508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen162.pdf

Win with the London System by Sverre Johnsen & Vlatko Kovacevic (2005)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627074459/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen85.pdf

Play the London System by Cyrus Lakdawala (2010)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627100246/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen139.pdf

The November 2015 issue of Chess lists the top twenty openings compiled from a list of 1452 September games where both players were rated over 2400 Elo. One can not take position on this list too seriously because it is greatly influenced by how the openings are grouped. For example, all the Retis are grouped together, while English is separated into 1 ... c5, 1 ... e5, etc. Nevertheless, for what it is worth, the list reports 71 Slavs, 61 Caro Kanns, 56 Najdorf Sicilians, 56 Declined Queen's Gambits, 55 King's Indians, 49 Ruy Lopez Berlin Defences, 46 Nimzo-Indians, 40 1 ... c5 Englishes, 39 Queen's Indians, 37 1 ... e5 Englishes, 37 Gruenfelds, 31 1 ... Nf6 Englishes, 26 Kan Sicilians, 25 1 ... e6 Englishes, 24 2 Nf3 sideline Sicilians, and 24 Taimanov Sicilians.

Ziggy_Zugzwang
Ziggy_Zugzwang
Nov 24, 2015
0
#3

If you play the Queen's Gambit you will be perceived as an intelligent handsome dashing man. If you play the London System you will be perceived as a pipe smoking weasel that hides behind the sofa when there are explosions on the TV !

Diakonia
Diakonia
Nov 24, 2015
0
#4
C-Crusher wrote:

i have been studying both of them for quite of a time. what do you think is better? the London System or Queen s' Gambit? i have Positional/Solid Style.

Depends on what you want out of the opening.  

If youre looking for a lot of theory, studying, and liines then go with the QG.

If youre looking for something thats quick and easy to learn then the London.  

But honestly, unless youre playing Expert players and above it doesnt matter for now, but if your aim is improvement beyond Expert then the QG is the way to go.

dpnorman
NM dpnorman
Show your flair!
Nov 24, 2015
0
#5

Queen's Gambit. Obviously. 

u0110001101101000
u0110001101101000
Closed: Inactive
Nov 24, 2015
0
#6

London is fine, but to squeeze wins out of it at a high level takes something magical Laughing Like a Kamsky or of course a Carlsen. We don't play at that level, and I'm unsure how much it matters to our results. If you like slow positional games and you're relatively strong in the endgame then it may be completely fine.

QG offers more variety, I like QG.

josephindiaw
josephindiaw
Nov 25, 2015
0
#7

C-Crusher wrote:

i have been studying both of them for quite of a time. what do you think is better? the London System or Queen s' Gambit? i have Positional/Solid Style.

C-Crusher wrote: i have been studying both of them for quite of a time. what do you think is better? the London System or Queen s' Gambit? i have Positional/Solid Style.

Die_Schanze
Die_Schanze
Nov 25, 2015
0
#8
Diakonia hat geschrieben:
C-Crusher wrote:

i have been studying both of them for quite of a time. what do you think is better? the London System or Queen s' Gambit? i have Positional/Solid Style.

Depends on what you want out of the opening.  

If youre looking for a lot of theory, studying, and liines then go with the QG.

If youre looking for something thats quick and easy to learn then the London.  

But honestly, unless youre playing Expert players and above it doesnt matter for now, but if your aim is improvement beyond Expert then the QG is the way to go.

That`s like what i would have written. Cool

Diakonia
Diakonia
Nov 25, 2015
0
#9
Die_Schanze wrote:
Diakonia hat geschrieben:
C-Crusher wrote:

i have been studying both of them for quite of a time. what do you think is better? the London System or Queen s' Gambit? i have Positional/Solid Style.

Depends on what you want out of the opening.  

If youre looking for a lot of theory, studying, and liines then go with the QG.

If youre looking for something thats quick and easy to learn then the London.  

But honestly, unless youre playing Expert players and above it doesnt matter for now, but if your aim is improvement beyond Expert then the QG is the way to go.

That`s like what i would have written. 

When people ask these tpyes of question i try and be as objective as possible.   Both openings are obviously sound.  I think choice will come own to how much effort the OP wants to put into them.  

TalsKnight
TalsKnight
Nov 25, 2015
0
#10

In the long term the QG will improve your chess understanding, While the london will give you a safe, boring opening.