Unless I know an opponent is unlikely to play it, I will usually play 1... Nf6 and transpose to the QGD. Then I may play the semi-Tarrasch or other QGD variations. I don't like closed openings, but like openings like the QGD which tend to lead to exchanges. Is that a reasonable approach?
Playing 1...Nf6 does not prevent White at all from playing the London System. If White plays 2.c4, it is is their choice to play the Queen's Gambit; not Black's decision.
what about
or do you play some kings Indian or something else like
or Benoni type of thing
I think your move order makes sense, it's basically an Indian move order QGD. This way you don't have to worry about the line where they take d5 before it's fully defended, and if they are slow to play c4 you can play c5 first.
this is what I do against the london
This is a transpose to a Semi-Slav while avoiding a London maybe from here you can get a QGD of some sort!
This is a transpose to a Semi-Slav while avoiding a London maybe from here you can get a QGD of some sort!
A semi- Slav where white has not played c4... what a great idea!
Basically you have transposed to an awful position for Black already: a stupid mix of French and Caro.
Unless I know an opponent is unlikely to play it, I will usually play 1... Nf6 and transpose to the QGD. Then I may play the semi-Tarrasch or other QGD variations. I don't like closed openings, but like openings like the QGD which tend to lead to exchanges. Is that a reasonable approach?
Playing 1...Nf6 does not prevent White at all from playing the London System. If White plays 2.c4, it is is their choice to play the Queen's Gambit; not Black's decision.
A London-type formation has no bite against ... d6.
A London-type formation has no bite against ... d6.
Why?
Of course 99% of the Londontards will play the same stereotypical moves in the opening phase, but 3.Nc3 makes perfect sense - the bishop is not that worse placed at f4 than g5 or e3 in the resulting Pirc positions.
Simon Williams, in his London videos, recommends 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 - and says that black really needs to play 3... d5 in that position, otherwise white will play e4 and dominate the center.
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d6 3. Nc3, black has effectively committed to playing that line, only with d6 instead of d5. Seems to me white can be pretty happy there.
Simon Williams, in his London videos, recommends 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 - and says that black really needs to play 3... d5 in that position, otherwise white will play e4 and dominate the center.
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d6 3. Nc3, black has effectively committed to playing that line, only with d6 instead of d5. Seems to me white can be pretty happy there.
For black is the Grunfeld possible in this sequence of moves ?
For black is the Grunfeld possible in this sequence of moves ?
It may be Grunfeld-ish, but can it be a Grunfeld if white hasn't played c4?
I'll let Grunfeld devotees argue over that one. I don't care one way or the other.
I start with the Colle to QGD because of Stockfish.
As I also like dynamic positions, I also want to keep white from playing the London System.
For this I usually go for an old benoni opening:
If white now wants to play a London System, he has two options, as he has to protect his pawn:
or
In both cases I now continue with 2. ...c4 and 3. ... d5 and the white light sqared bishop will never be able to come to d3.
This is a transpose to a Semi-Slav while avoiding a London maybe from here you can get a QGD of some sort!
Yours is not a Semi-Slav. It is a crap line of the French or Caro-Kann.
1.e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3.Nc3 and now 3...c6 is crap
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 and now 3...e6 is crap
For it to be a semi-slav, White must play c4 before playing Nc3.
2.Nf3 can easily transpose to the london against queens indian and QGD setups, while also not committing to playing the london against the KID and the Benoni.
I would play an Anti-London. Agadamatar has a free course on Chessable for this here. It takes all of those lazy players out of their comfort zone as it immediately challenges their position
Also, can these top streamers and Youtubers stop promoting the London to beginners. It just makes people hate chess. How about teach them a Queen's Gambit or a Ruy Lopez or even an Italian.
Surprisingly (or maybe not) I play h5 against the London and they almost always blunder their bishop. That's how lazy some of these guys are
Unless I know an opponent is unlikely to play it, I will usually play 1... Nf6 and transpose to the QGD. Then I may play the semi-Tarrasch or other QGD variations. I don't like closed openings, but like openings like the QGD which tend to lead to exchanges. Is that a reasonable approach?