Opening system that begins with the moves 1.d4 and 2.Bf4 (white) or 2.Nf3 & 3.Bf4 (black).
Questions tagged [london-system]
33 questions
35
votes
17 answers
The London System: Can it be broken?
I've faced the London System several times so far, and just don't know what strategy to adapt against it (I exclusively play Nf6 in response to 1.d4). I'm a highly tactical player, so I try following up with d5, c5, Qa5, Nc6, Rc8 etc. in order to…
chubbycantorset
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Why does the London System have the reputation it has?
After being out of chess for many years, I became interested again. While I never studied in my earlier playing days, I always played e4 openings when white. That was partly due to that being recommended by the one book I read and partly because…
GreenMatt
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Can black play the London system?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3, Black usually plays Nf6 or e6 (which blocks his light-square bishop) and I wonder if it is possible for him to adopt the ideas from the London System and play Bf5 before e6. This is a rare move but I wonder if it is…
Zuriel
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Why are side pawns better than center pawns in this position?
So center pawns are usually regarded as more powerful than side pawns, which is why I have a question about this position.
After 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 the engine and theory recommend playing 3. e3 to defend the pawn on d4, but if black exchanges for…
Fanny Raymond
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Why is c4 bad when playing the London against a King's Indian?
Recently I (rated ~1900 "classical" on Lichess) played the following opening:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Nbd2 d6 6.c4
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/3p1np1/8/2PP1B2/4PN2/PP1N1PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - 0 6"]
Upon playing c4, the stockfish analysis…
aquirdturtle
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Is there a horizontally mirrored London System, and what is it called?
London System is an opening for white, that goes d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, Nd2, c3. The move order generally doesn't matter too much and there are lots of ways to transpose into this.
However, what I want to know now, is the horizontally mirrored way also a…
DrZ214
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I can play the London system exclusively up to what rating?
There are many GMs who sometimes play the London system, but none of them play it exclusively. By "exclusively" I mean play it in over 99% of my games when I'm White, I mean adopting the London system not as a secondary weapon but as my only weapon.…
Fate
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Why is h4 much better than h3?
rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
[Event "Rated Rapid game"]
[Date "2021.08.09"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[TimeControl "600+0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Opening "Indian Defense"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[Annotator…
maxmitz
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What are the cases in which is good to take Qb3 in "London System'sSH" setups and why
I know that the main idea against London System is to play Qb6 to attack the b2 pawn which is unprotected due to the early Bf4 white plays (generally) at move 2. Normally white reacts to the threat with Qb3, covering the attack of the queen on…
ela
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How to reply to an early c5 in the London System?
I've played the London System for about 3 months and am liking it alot, however I have run across several games where Black played a weird, but good, move early in the opening, c5.
example:
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5
Here, c5 is threatening to take on d4, a…
TMcSquared
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Knight to h5 in the london system
In the London system, white wants to keep their dark squared bishop,
Therefore after say 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4, black can play 3...Nh5, doesn't it break white's position?
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 Nh5
user7355
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London system move order
The standard London System consists of the setup moves: d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, Nbd2, c3, Bd3. I'm wondering about the nuances of what the most accurate move order is to play it in. Here are some of my thoughts:
Some people like reaching the London via…
James Ko
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On the Mason Attack
What are the main points, tactical or otherwise, backing up the Mason Attack?
I got the idea reading about the London System, but the Lichess engine calls it "Mason Attack". It starts out as follows:
[FEN…
rubik
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London System with Nc3 -- what's the idea?
Recently top GMs are playing a London system type setup with Nc3 before c4. I can't imagine they are going for cheap tricks with Nb5, but I am not seeing a valid positional idea behind the move either.
For example Carlsen-Ding 2017
[FEN ""]
1.d4…
Ywapom
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The London System
I'm rated on Chess.com in 1400 right now (elo). But sometimes my rating fluctuates between 1200 to 1500. As I searched on internet, I'm a beginner that is going to the intermediate level. Should I, as a beginner, practice a lot with the London…
Rebeca Linskii
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