London System

The idea

White plays d4, brings the dark-squared bishop to f4 early, then e3, Nf3, c3, Nbd2 and Bd3. The order changes a little from game to game, but the picture does not. The bishop comes out before e3 so it is not shut in behind its own pawns.

The pawns on c3, d4 and e3 form a wall that is very hard to break. From there White has two common plans: a knight jump to e5 backed by f4, which can turn into a kingside attack, or a slow squeeze when Black runs out of useful moves. Against ...c5 White keeps a pawn on d4 with c3 and answers ...Qb6 by guarding b2.

Solid and low in theory. Games tend to be long and positional, and your opponent has to find a plan, not you. It got its name from a tournament held in London in 1922, and it became hugely popular online once the world's top players, the world champion among them, started using it.

Players who want one system for White that works against nearly every Black setup, with little to memorize. It is a good first 1.d4 opening because the ideas stay the same, which leaves your thinking time for the middlegame.

The early ...Qb6 attack on b2 is the most common trap for London players. Know your answer, such as Qb3 or Qc2, before the game starts.

The main line, move by move

1. 1.d4 · White takes the center with the queen's pawn, which the queen already guards. It opens the way for the bishop on c1, the piece the London System is built around.
2. 1...Nf6 · Black develops the knight to its best square, where it controls e4 and d5. It keeps every setup open: ...d5, ...g6 or ...e6 can all follow.
3. 2.Nf3 · The knight comes to its natural square, guards d4 and watches e5. With e5 covered, White is ready to bring the bishop to f4 next.
4. 2...g6 · Black prepares ...Bg7, a bishop for the long diagonal that will aim at d4 and b2 once the knight on f6 steps aside. This is the King's Indian way of meeting the London.
5. 3.Bf4 · The London move: the bishop comes out before e3 would shut it in. From f4 it controls e5, looks at c7, and will not be shut in by the pawns White puts on e3 and c3 later.
6. 3...Bg7 · The bishop takes the long diagonal behind its own knight, so any jump by the knight opens it toward d4 and b2. Black is ready to castle, and ...d6 or ...c5 will follow.
7. 4.e3 · A small pawn step that backs up d4 and opens the bishop on f1. That is why White plays it after Bf4: the bishop from c1 is already out, so the pawn on e3 does not block it in.
8. 4...d6 · Black guards e5 and prepares the push ...e5, which would hit the bishop on f4 and challenge d4. The pawn also opens the way for the bishop on c8.
9. 5.Be2 · A modest square for the bishop that clears the way to castle. With O-O, h3 and c3 to come, White completes the usual London setup; h3 also gives the bishop on f4 a safe retreat on h2.

Lines to learn: London System

• Against 1...d5
• Against the King's Indian setup
• Against an early ...c5

Next moves in book

• 3...Bg7

Related openings

• Catalan Opening E00–E09 · 15 named lines
• King's Indian Defense E60–E99 · 109 named lines
• Nimzo-Indian Defense E20–E59 · 68 named lines
• Grünfeld Defense A56–E60 · 51 named lines