Crush Black With The London System

The London System may have a reputation for being dull and dreary, but mightn’t that just be the opinion of players who find it tedious to play against?

Indeed, for Black, the London System is a formidable setup to penetrate. For White, however, there are endless attacking avenues that can overwhelm Black’s kingside in a snap. Magnus Carlsen proved this by wielding the London System with perilous flair against the world’s chess elite in the 2010s.

The consistency, reliability, and classic tactical motifs of the London System make it a sturdy weapon for beginners, club players, and even grandmasters alike. In this guide, we’ll show you not only how to keep the setup solid, but also how to turn on an explosive attack before your opponent has smelled the coffee.

What is the London System?

The London System is a chess opening system unlike any other typical opening. While chess openings typically follow a specific order of play and a multitude of possible variations, the London System is a setup that can be achieved through multiple move orders against a wide array of responses from the opponent.

The London System typically begins with the moves 1. d4 and 2. Bf4, and is characterized by posting further pieces on the following squares:

• Pawns on e3 and c3 to create an iconic ‘pyramid’ with the d4 pawn at the tip
• Knights on f3 and d2, defending one another
• The light-squared bishop on d3, sitting at the center of the pawn pyramid
• Castling is not strictly a part of the system. White can castle on either side or not at all!

Once the setup is complete, White’s pieces look like this:

Note: Occasionally, you’ll also come across minor variations to the system, such as the queenside knight posted on c3 (the Jobava London System) and the c-pawn remaining on c2.

What Are the Advantages of the London System?

• Easy to Learn – A flexible system that can be played against an array of responses from Black. This makes it very easy to learn and highly suitable for beginners.
• Solid – The pyramid pawn structure and piece placement in the London System are extremely solid, making it very difficult for your opponent to launch dangerous attacks or gain a quick advantage.
• Attacking options – While rock solid, the London System isn’t as dull as is often supposed. White has an abundance of attacking options for those who know how to use them!
• Recurring themes – Playing the London System, you’ll see the same positions and themes repeating again and again. While critics may interpret this as boring, you’ll soon learn how to convert these positions into an advantage – perhaps in truly imaginative ways!
• Strong at all levels – Yes, the London system is good for beginners, but it also scores remarkably well at the highest club level, too! Even grandmasters occasionally play the London System to this day.

Which Order Should You Play the London System In?

Now you know the setup that you’re shooting for, but which order should you play it in? While it’s not as crucial as in most openings, there’s strong theory to suggest the following sequence is superior:

• After 1. d4, it’s normally advised to follow immediately with 2. Bf4. You know for sure that your bishop needs to exit your pawn chain, so make this your priority.
• Play e3 before Nf3. Playing Nf3 too early invites your opponent to play an early pin with Bg4 before you’re properly prepared for it.
• In response to c7-c5, play c3 immediately! Whether your opponent plays …c5 on move 2 or move 5, save c3 for when it’s needed. You might not need it at all!
• Save Nbd2 and Bd3 until your other pieces are developed.

Top Tips for Playing the London System Successfully

By simply achieving the setup we’ve described, you’ve already established a solid position with lots of attacking potential. To take the London System to the next level, however, you need to know how to respond to the challenges your opponent might throw at you, and how to capitalize on any weaknesses in their position.

If Black Plays Qb6: Respond Qc2 or Qb3

In the London System, you immediately commit to developing your dark-squared bishop outside the pawn chain. The slight drawback is that your bishop is now unable to return to defend your queenside!

Seeing this potential weakness, many opponents will develop their queen to b6 to attack b2. This can be very dangerous if you don’t defend diligently! A great way to eliminate the threat is simply to offer an exchange of queens. By playing Qb3, you defend your b-file defiantly.

If Black trades queens, doubling your pawns on the b-file is only a good thing! Not only does it offer more support to the c-file, but it also unleashes your rook on the a-file, too. This is precisely the benefit that you don’t want Black to enjoy instead of you! Therefore, if Black declines the queen trade, don’t capture theirs, but simply continue development as usual.

If Black Plays Bd6, Answer With Either Bg3 or Ne5

A very common way for Black to try to disrupt the perfect London System is by playing Bd6, threatening to trade it off with your dark-squared bishop. What should you do?

Retreat the Bishop: Bg3

Much traditional theory recommends playing Bg3 so that if Black were to trade, you capture back with your h-pawn and unleash your kingside rook on the h-file.
Although this would leave your pawn structure looking a little odd, chess engines and grandmasters frequently castle kingside quite safely anyway! That said, you often have a better option than Bg3...

Take an Outpost: Ne5

Playing Ne5 to block the attack on your bishop is a very high-scoring strategy at the amateur level. By doing so, you land your knight in your opponent’s half of the board, where it can reach many dangerous squares.
If Black is ever persuaded to capture your e5 knight, recapturing with your d-pawn (dxe5) chases away Black’s defending knight on f6. You can also support this knight either with f2-f4 or with the other knight.
Notice how moving the knight to the center also opened up the diagonal for your queen to launch into a menacing mating attack! With Black’s defending knight now gone missing, your chances are high.

If Black Plays Nh5

Another way that Black may threaten your dark-squared bishop is by playing Nh5. Where possible, you can simply shift your bishop to g5. If Black has arranged a bishop-queen battery on this diagonal, however, you’re better off playing h3 to create an escape square.

Alternatively, you can ignore the threat altogether and allow a trade on f4! While this does temporarily compromise your pawn structure, it builds massive support to plant your knight on e5.

Which alternative will prove better depends on the precise position and your style of play. Experiment with different alternatives to find what works best for you!

Threats to Your Light-squared Bishop

There are two ways your opponent may try to attack your light-squared bishop:

Trading Light-squared Bishops is Okay!

Black might try to prevent your perfect setup by planting its bishop on f5, ready for a trade. No sweat! While your bishop on d3 is a fierce long-range weapon, recapturing on d3 with your queen now lands her in the sweet spot, accessing all the same squares that your bishop did.

If Black Pushes its c-Pawn

Another way that Black may try to bump your light-squared bishop is by pushing its c-pawn to c4. Here, all you need to do is retreat with Bc2. By pushing the c-pawn to the 4th rank, Black has overextended its pawns without recompense. Now your potential pawn break e3-e4 will prove even more powerful later on!

Greek Gift Sacrifices

An especially venomous tactic for London System players is the Greek Gift Sacrifice, a kingside attack that leaves nowhere for your opponent to escape checkmate.

Notice how your light-squared bishop on d3 is pointing ominously toward h7. In the Greek Gift Sacrifice, you sacrifice this bishop by capturing the h7 pawn before closing in with your queen and supporting pieces in a mating attack.

In the example below, White has managed to displace Black’s all-important f6 knight from defending the fort. Now the Greek Gift Sacrifice can commence: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. c3 Nc6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Ne5 O-O 8. Bd3 Bxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. Bxh7+ Kxh7 12. Ng5+ Kg8 13. Qh5

The Fishing Pole Trap

Another way to storm the enemy fort, sometimes in conjunction with the Greek Gift Sacrifice, is the Fishing Pole Trap. By planting your h-pawn on h4 and a piece as ‘bait’ on g5, you threaten to open up the h-file for your rook to saddle up a mating attack.

In the example below, White’s knight is the bait. If Black captures the knight, White recaptures, opening the h-file while threatening Black’s knight. If the knight moves, White’s queen swoops into h5 to create a mating net. Black is now helpless to prevent the impending checkmate! 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. c3 Nf6 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Nbd2 Bd7 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Ne5 O-O 9. h4 Rc8 10. Bg5 h6 11. Qe2 hxg5 12. hxg5 Ne8 13. Qh5

If Your Opponent Plays the King’s Indian Defense

It’s often said that the London System is playable vs. 1... d5 as well as 1... Nf6, the Indian Game. The Indian Game, however, is often followed with 2... g6 and fianchettoing the dark-squared bishop in a King’s Indian Defense style. Even London System die-hards would concede that the London System isn’t so strong against the King’s Indian.

Why? In the King’s Indian Defense, Black hasn’t committed to playing …d5. Against the London System, your opponent can continue instead with …d6, preparing to challenge your setup with …e5 down the line. Since this can present a challenging task for your center, you may want to consider an alternative approach.

3. Nc3

A very successful approach against the King’s Indian Defense is playing 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3. While this is a deviation from the London System that you know and love, it’s a highly scoring strategy. Why? You’ve got 4. e4 coming, ready to take full control of the center.

While grandmasters know that 3. Nc3 must be countered with 3... d5, the vast majority of amateur players will continue with their intended plan, 3... Bg7. This gives up the center without resistance, and from here, you’re already better than Black without any further theory.

To offer you some breadcrumbs for continuing, however, try to remove your opponent’s fianchettoed bishop by setting up a queen-bishop battery toward h6, castling long, and consider pawn storming Black’s fort. You might just learn to love this sharp retort even better than your beloved London System!

The London System – Our Verdict

For players with imagination and tactical prowess, the London System is far from the uninspired opening it is sometimes said to be. Recently reinvigorated with Magnus Carlsen’s genius, the London System has proven to be as popping with tactical fireworks as any other opening.

While the opening remains a fantastic choice for beginners, it remains important to learn how to counter the most common ways that Black will try to undermine the setup. Having followed our advice here, you should have all the tools to combine a solid home camp with confident attacks that triumph again and again!