KID vs the London System
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I just lash out the first 5 moves of the KID against it but after that I usually just go for a kingside attack with no pawn break in the center starting with Nh5. I'm thinking if this is a decent way to play against the London or if there are better ways to face it.
u are playing KID against 1.d4?
Then just continue, KID has many advantages : it can be played against all set up by white after 1.d4.
But the problem with KID is to adjust according to what white does.
Here are some ways to play as black :
There are other choices, but this is just some systems which are very good against London.
Personnally, i prefer the last one, and the one with b6-Bb7 without playing c5-e5 (which will come later).
Notice I didnt play h3 for white, but if he/she does, he/she loses a tempo. About Nh5 if not h3, I am not sure it is so good, I prefer to continue the development like I gave above.
IM poucin, in your last one after 7...Be6, I would likely bail with 8 dxc5 dxc5 9 h3.
GM Nikola Sedlak wrote that he is not a fan of the London System against 1...Nf6, especially not a fan against the King's Indian setup. Many London System players, including me, use the London System against everything. I have considered playing the Tromp against 1...Nf6, but the Tromp is not a system and quite different and therefore difficult for me to adjust to. I don't recall his handle but there is/was was a good player at Chess.com who said he plays the London against 1...d5 and the Tromp against 1...Nf6, possibly a good combo repertoire for players versatile enough. The Tromp (pseudo Tromp) is not so good against 1...d5.
I chose it as my main reply against 1.d4. I have a book on it and have been studying but I found the piece maneuvering a lot more complex that I thought. I'll probably go to the Leningrad instead which is kinda similar.
This is how I play against the London. This was shown to me by IM Chessexplained.
Watch his video here if you want to learn more:
Fight the London System with Black Pt 2 - ...Nf6,g6 Setups (Kings Indian, Grunfeld)
Here's one of my games.
Sep 10, 2018
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#8
Another point to ponder, regarding playing the KID vs the London:
With the "London" Bishop sitting on f4, Black has an additional option for counter-play, beyond those usually associated with the KID.
Black can play a Panno-like ... Nc6, and respond to White's d5 (attacking the c6-Knight) with ... e5 (counter-attacking the f4-Bishop and clearing the e7 square for the c6-Knight's retreat).
I've tested this plan in OTB tournaments, with generally encouraging results.