"...but what if the opponent goes 4. ...Nh5 ?" Then white plays 5.Bh3 and if 5...Nh3 6.gh3 Black gets the bishop pair, and white gets the h-file.
"After 7. ...Bd6, is capturing the black bishop forced? " Part of what the London is all about is being able to control the e5 square. So if black plays 7...Bd6 White plays 8.Ne5 Now if black captures on e5, you occupy the e5 square with either a bishop, or pawn.
"...but what if the opponent goes 4. ...Nh5 ?" Then white plays 5.Bh3 and if 5...Nh3 6.gh3 Black gets the bishop pair, and white gets the h-file.
I think you meant Bg3 instead of Bh3 there, but I get what you mean. So the h-file for the rook really is worth losing the bishop pair and having doubled pawns. That's good to know.
"After 7. ...Bd6, is capturing the black bishop forced? " Part of what the London is all about is being able to control the e5 square. So if black plays 7...Bd6 White plays 8.Ne5 Now if black captures on e5, you occupy the e5 square with either a bishop, or pawn.
Thank you for that! I didn't realise before that you could jump with the knight over there. Just had a game like that, it's pretty useful. The opponent ended up taking the knight and they lost their good black bishop because of that.
Sorry 'bout that, yes i meant Bh3 (which you already knew)
Glad to help.
Nh5 is too early from your opponent, not so good. You can play bg5, which makes his nh5 move look silly... (and if he plays g5 you can play nxg5, not that g5 is a good move regardless).
resign
Nh5 is too early from your opponent, not so good. You can play bg5, which makes his nh5 move look silly... (and if he plays g5 you can play nxg5, not that g5 is a good move regardless).
Right, I've just looked at bg5. I like it even more than Bg3. Initially I was afraid of ...f6 followed by ...g5 in response, but it doesn't work because I can capture on g5 with the knight and if black recaptures, the black knight is hanging.
https://lichess.org/study/MJFhnm1X/k757S5dq#13
...h3 followed by ...g5 works for black, but then there is Nfd2! with the discovered attack on the black knight! I totally missed that move before. Black is then forced to retreat his knight to g7 or f6. If he was adamant on taking my bishop with the pawn, then I capture his knight with my queen, which makes him end up with double rook pawns and me having an active queen.
So black can't just push ...h3 followed by ...g5 with tempo. He does get a lot of space on the kingside, but also he can't castle kingside so safely now. I really like this position from that point onwards.
What you did is correct .. Bg5 h6 Bh4 g5 Nfd2 .. but there is a line where black goes for this to get Ng7 Bg3 Nf5 to capture the Bishop .. but white has a great lead in development .. I remember a game Carlsen - So that went along those lines.
Already the OP is missing a very basic concept. The Bishop on f4 is NOT a good bishop. It's a BAD BISHOP!
Bad does not mean inactive! You can have Bad and Active (what the Bishop on f4 is), Bad and Inactive (The worst case scenario), Good and Active (The best case scenario) or Good and Inactive.
White's light-squared Bishop is his good Bishop in the London System. Same thing goes for just about any other Queen Pawn opening without 2.c4 (i.e. Colle, Torre, etc).
Im certainly not an expert in the London but why not go 4. h3 (I realize that's not a typical London opening move....but)
If your Bishop is outside the pawn chain and your opponent has an adjacent knight (as in your example; Bishop on f4 and Black knight on f6) with a pawn or bishop developed behind it on e7 blocking ...Nh5, Bg5 threatening the Queen w tempo.......you can/should/could play h3 to open up the escape square on h2
Basically if e7 has a pawn or bishop on it the threat of the knight attacking that Bishop will be there......
To OP: in your link, why don't you turn on stockfish and see what your options are? Stockfish will show you everything you need to know. I never understand these questions in forum. Why listen to people with questionable knowledge vs looking at all the options with computer analysis?
To OP: in your link, why don't you turn on stockfish and see what your options are? Stockfish will show you everything you need to know. I never understand these questions in forum. Why listen to people with questionable knowledge vs looking at all the options with computer analysis?
Two reasons: firstly, computers can't explain positional factors while humans can. Secondly, computer evaluation is hit-and-miss in the opening. The opinion of someone who knows the opening well is more valuable.
Im certainly not an expert in the London but why not go 4. h3 (I realize that's not a typical London opening move....but)
If your Bishop is outside the pawn chain and your opponent has an adjacent knight (as in your example; Bishop on f4 and Black knight on f6) with a pawn or bishop developed behind it on e7 blocking ...Nh5, Bg5 threatening the Queen w tempo.......you can/should/could play h3 to open up the escape square on h2
Basically if e7 has a pawn or bishop on it the threat of the knight attacking that Bishop will be there......
I agree h3/a3 loses time but its not always a bad move is it? is it in the Narjdorf?
I dont play the London, I know you want get the position set up as fast as possible so in that case you are right its a waste of time
It is a bad move. If tempi dont matter why dont we just undevelop our pieces.
You need to understand why moves are played. The najdorf includes a6 because you are always going to follow it up with b5, that is the point of the move a6. You rarely ever want to play g4.
To OP: in your link, why don't you turn on stockfish and see what your options are? Stockfish will show you everything you need to know. I never understand these questions in forum. Why listen to people with questionable knowledge vs looking at all the options with computer analysis?
Two reasons: firstly, computers can't explain positional factors while humans can. Secondly, computer evaluation is hit-and-miss in the opening. The opinion of someone who knows the opening well is more valuable.
Have you checked out any opening analysis help. like 365 chess opening explorer?
To OP: in your link, why don't you turn on stockfish and see what your options are? Stockfish will show you everything you need to know. I never understand these questions in forum. Why listen to people with questionable knowledge vs looking at all the options with computer analysis?
Two reasons: firstly, computers can't explain positional factors while humans can. Secondly, computer evaluation is hit-and-miss in the opening. The opinion of someone who knows the opening well is more valuable.
Have you checked out any opening analysis help. like 365 chess opening explorer?
https://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=9&n=5585&ms=d4.d5.Nf3.Nf6.Bf4.Nc6.e3.Nh5&ns=7.8.10.13.226.1970.1546.5585
I'm not the OP 
But you answered for the OP after my last post. You mentioned computer eval not good for opening, so my response is good for you, or the OP.
To OP: in your link, why don't you turn on stockfish and see what your options are? Stockfish will show you everything you need to know. I never understand these questions in forum. Why listen to people with questionable knowledge vs looking at all the options with computer analysis?
Two reasons: firstly, computers can't explain positional factors while humans can. Secondly, computer evaluation is hit-and-miss in the opening. The opinion of someone who knows the opening well is more valuable.
Have you checked out any opening analysis help. like 365 chess opening explorer?
https://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=9&n=5585&ms=d4.d5.Nf3.Nf6.Bf4.Nc6.e3.Nh5&ns=7.8.10.13.226.1970.1546.5585
I'm not the OP
Not really fair to the guy since it was addressed to OP and you responded...
But you answered for the OP after my last post. You mentioned computer eval not good for opening, so my response is good for you, or the OP.
Fair enough
In answer, I didn't check in this particular case, but I do make use of online tools
To OP: in your link, why don't you turn on stockfish and see what your options are? Stockfish will show you everything you need to know. I never understand these questions in forum. Why listen to people with questionable knowledge vs looking at all the options with computer analysis?
Chess engines do not explain the "why" behind a move.
By your own reasoning. Anyone should be able to to go buy a fight simulator game, and be able to fly a plane.
The theory on the opening says that 4. e3 is fine, but what if the opponent goes 4. ...Nh5 ? Isn't this bad for white?
If I go 5.Bg3, they'll likely capture the bishop (5. ...Nxg3), which makes me lose a good bishop AND have doubled pawns.
Or instead if I ignore the knight and just develop with 5. Nbd2, the opponent can just take on f4 and leave me with doubled f pawns.
The other question I'd like to ask you is regarding this other position in the London: after 7. ...Bd6, is capturing the black bishop forced? Otherwise black captures my bishop and, again, gives me doubled f pawns. But if I capture the black bishop first (8. Bxd6), I help the black queen get active.
I'd appreciate your feedback