London System

Play as WhiteSystem

A solid, low-theory setup you can play against almost anything Black tries.

The main line, move by move

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Bg3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Bd3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5

1. 1. d4 — Claim the center with the queen pawn and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... d5 — Black stakes a claim in the center.
3. 2. Nf3 — Develop a knight toward the center.
4. 2... Nf6 — Black develops a knight and controls e4.
5. 3. Bf4 — Develop the bishop outside the pawn chain before playing e3.
6. 3... e6 — Support d5 and prepare ...Bd6.
7. 4. e3 — A solid move: it supports d4 and opens the f1 bishop.
8. 4... Bd6 — Offer a trade of the London bishop.
9. 5. Bg3 — Keep the bishop instead of trading it.
10. 5... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
11. 6. Nbd2 — Develop the second knight and prepare e4.
12. 6... c5 — Challenge the d4 pawn.
13. 7. c3 — Support the d4 pawn.
14. 7... Nc6 — Develop and add pressure on d4.
15. 8. Bd3 — Develop the bishop toward the kingside.
16. 8... b6 — Prepare to put the bishop on b7.
17. 9. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
18. 9... Bb7 — Put the bishop on the long diagonal.
19. 10. Ne5 — Put the knight on a strong central outpost.
20. 10... Nxe5 — Takes the knight on e5.
21. 11. Bxe5 — Takes the knight on e5.

Other sound lines

• 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. c3 Qb6 6. Qb3 c4 7. Qxb6 axb6 8. Nbd2 Bf5 9. Be2 e6

Related openings

• Catalan
• English Opening
• Reti Opening
• Colle System
• Trompowsky Attack

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