Thx for nothing Magnus- Now I gotta play the dutch to avoid London system

  But that is not the London. Just putting a bishop on f4 does not make it a london system, once white has played c4 it is pure dutch

 Ok yes to play the london system white should be playing c3. Though the strategy that Simon Williams recommends in The Killer Dutch is still what I point out in the blog post. Basically aim for a quick e5. It is simple enough

Here is the game that he gives to illustrate the strategy:

Don't give Magnus any ideas!

@mickynj best comment, as long players are willing to fight there will be interesting games

Ok, I don't really know that opening.  I was just guessing.  When I play d4 and someone replies with f5, I go into a QG setup with c4.  So, for me, a London-Dutch won't come up in my games.   

Carlsen's not the only one playing the London these days. Kramnik is also playing it to win.

If you find +2800 rated GMs playing for the win boring, then may I suggest you try tiddly-winks?

and the Exchange French.  lol   I agree with you though, for the most part.  

For all those saying that there are enterprising lines to play against the London, please show them as like the OP I find the London system boring.

London op

 I agree with IM pfren, the London system is the prefect weapon against the Dutch defense; better play the KID or the Benoni to play for a win.

I would try something more like this 

The top players in the world aren't concerned with theoretical equality anymore. They're concerned with setting up concrete problems for their opponents to solve.

The computer revolution has shown that almost anything is playable in the sense that it doesn't lose, and absolutely no opening confers a clear advantage against best play. 

You're showing that you are a product of a bygone era when players tried to find the very best moves. Nowadays, GMs know such efforts are easily parried. This is why ultra quiet Italian Games and the London are becoming more and more popular.

When an elite player wants a draw as Black, the best thing in the world is to go down a heavily analysed theoretical line. Magnus Carlsen did just that by playing the Marshall Gambit against MVL a couple days ago, and assured himself an easy draw.

This is the problem and the reason why the London is so popular at club level. It is easy to understand and easy to play, and it is tougher for higher rated opponents to break them down.  Something like 80% of my games are against lower rated opposition and it can be tough trying to break people down, without taking dangerous risks. Playing the black side of a london is best avoided if possible. It easy to equalise but harder to unbalance and ask tough questions

Not many people have played the London against me.   I see a lot more e4 openings than anything else, when I'm black.  I guess they are booked up on the Ruy Lopez-Berlin Defense, since Magnus and other top GM's were playing that a few months ago.   When I do see d4, it's usually followed by c4.   I play the London with white a lot more than anyone plays it against me.   So, I didn't even realize it was popular again until I read this thread.   Maybe I'll switch to d4, c4 now.   lol   I prefer to avoid the flavor of the month, since my opponent might be booked up on it.

Tbh I think the biggest problem is just people not knowing what to do about the Slav pawn structure because that's all it really is. Going first gives White some aggressive options sometimes though and I really have no idea where people learn that stuff from. I basically just lost to Bxh7 stuff until I didn't.

If you join in V3, you can choose your level. "Beginner", "Intermediate", "Expert"... something like that. And the highest one gives you a starting point at 1800.

Stupid wrote:

"it took me maybe three or four years of training to get where the average player takes twenty, if he ever gets there at all.  Another fifteen years or so and I'll....AARGH I'LL BE OLD!!  This is why I look to pass my work on to a younger student."

And just how much will you charge me for the privilege?

What Reti wrote about Capablanca's play and Americanism in chess has come to pass in the age of the computer.  My attitude is screw the computer and the revolution it brought, including the ability to more easily collect personal data and surveil someone.  Screw the smart phone too and all the twits who can't do without their constant silicon companion.  Unfortunately, you can't put the genie back in the bottle or get Pandora to reseal her box (actually jar).