Thoughts on the London system
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Srinika_2013
Jul 12, 2025
0
#1
Hi everyone!
I've been learning the London System recently and I'm really enjoying how solid and easy it is to play. I like the setup with d4, Nf3, Bf4, e3, and c3, but I'm still figuring out the best plans in different positions.
What are your favorite lines or tricks in the London?
How do you handle aggressive responses like the Jobava Attack or early ...c5/...Qb6 setups?
Do you think the London works well at higher levels too?
Would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and experiences!
Thanks 😊
~ Srinika
Jul 12, 2025
0
#2
The London is a bad choice in an online setting, it's way too bland. Most of the advantages of playing the London are metagame related. Otherwise it really just sucks.
Jul 12, 2025
0
#7
Sometimes in low time games, my opponents premove the London and this happens lol.
Jul 12, 2025
0
#8
White often involves a plan to put a knight on e5, supported by the pawn and bishop.
People hate it because they can just play the moves in almost no certain order.
Jul 13, 2025
0
#13
And whoever thinks that they can beat the London with the Englund Gambit is WRONG!!!
Srinika_2013 wrote:
Hi everyone! I've been learning the London System recently and I'm really enjoying how solid and easy it is to play. I like the setup with d4, Nf3, Bf4, e3, and c3, but I'm still figuring out the best plans in different positions. What are your favorite lines or tricks in the London? How do you handle aggressive responses like the Jobava Attack or early ...c5/...Qb6 setups? Do you think the London works well at higher levels too? Would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and experiences! Thanks 😊 ~ Srinika
Disregard the Nay Sayers. Although I don't play the London, it's a formidable opening! A lot of the players here are stuck in past here, where they think the correct "overall strategy" is to peruse an opening advantage from the jump.
When it comes to opening theory.. there are two types of advantages Theoretical & Practical.
Theoretical... is concrete lines where move X leads to outcome Y
Practical... usually based on familiarity and experience working with... is theme based, knowing how to play a position(s)
DUE TO the strength of the engines, Chess at the top, getting a theoretical opening advantage is now extremely difficult! I just got done watching a pod cast with Andras Toth (one of the top Chess coaches in the West) who stated the super Gm's are now constructing their repertoires designed to reached playable positions with a wide depth and scope. (In other words, they are looking for Practical advantages)
The London is popular at the top, because (so far...) Black has NO concrete lines to punish White's development. PERIOD! end of argument...
A lot of people are misconstruing positions where both sides are equal and there's a lot of depth and scope as being bad for White. Again, that is "Old School thinking" it's getting harder and harder to pull a novelty, harder and harder to pull an opening advantage in main line openings ... Heck, openings once thought bad are getting a new lease on life with the help of chess engines.
Ignore the Nay Sayers...focus on practical advantage with the London, study the opening based on the theme of the various Black pawn formations, and the piece activity. Work on tactics and build up you endgame skill...
Those Nay Sayers are going to expend a lot of time and effort chasing an opening advantage, just for their opponent, 5 min before the game, with the help of a chess engine... counter all that prep!
Computers don't help when it comes to practical advantages.
(again the Why behind the "WHY" the London is played at the TOP)
Jul 13, 2025
0
#17
I think it can be a great opening to start out. It may get a bit boring after some time bc of the eversame structure but them you can still spice it up with the jobava you mentioned or some move order tricks. There is also a course on chessable by Simon Williams about the Jobava which I really enjoyed. The London not have the best reputation but that shouldnt stop you from playing it🤗
People dislike on the London because it teaches you mechanical thinking (employing the same learned plans in very similiar Positions) that stops your development as chess player
Also you dont get to play many pawn structures as compared to e4
