London System

[Mike Gunn]

Years ago when playing in a Richmond Rapidplay my junior opponents both played the London in the 1st 2 games I had as black. I approached Susan Lalic (who was controlling the event) and asked her for a good line against the London. She reeled off a dozen moves of theory (which I couldn't remember) and said "and then it's unclear". Needless to say my 3rd white opponent (also a junior) played the London, too.

I have had some success with Bd6 (it gets them out of the book) but that can't be right.

[John Upham]

Years ago when playing in a Richmond Rapidplay my junior opponents both played the London in the 1st 2 games I had as black. I approached Susan Lalic (who was controlling the event) and asked her for a good line against the London. She reeled off a dozen moves of theory (which I couldn't remember) and said "and then it's unclear". Needless to say my 3rd white opponent (also a junior) played the London, too.

I have had some success with Bd6 (it gets them out of the book) but that can't be right.

One of the standard approaches in to play d5, c5, Nc6 and Qb6 with an optional Nf6.

Deferring e6 is a good idea to allow the c8 bishop to land on f5. After all, White has not played c4 so we don't need to defend d5 with a pawn and block the bishop French style.

Page 73 of Dealing with d4 Deviations (John Cox) covers this in detail and says "Many feel this move to be the Achilles Heel of the whole London System"

Of course, LS disciples have been informed by those who know better to defer Sf3 and the approach by
Fighting the London System - Kiril Georgiev deals with that.

Fighting the London System

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[JustinHorton]

Bd6 lines are recommended by Delchev in his QGA book. That book has some ropey old lines in it, mind, but not these ones. However I mostly like to follow the lines John Cox gives, but he doesn't cover 2 Bf4, just 2 Nf3 and 3 Bf4. Most of all though I prefer my opponents to play something less arse-clenchingly dull (our Berlin-playing correspondent writes).

[Roger de Coverly]

Bd6 lines are recommended by Delchev in his QGA book. That book has some ropey old lines in it, mind, but not these ones. However I mostly like to follow the lines John Cox gives, but he doesn't cover 2 Bf4, just 2 Nf3 and 3 Bf4.

As Black I would set up either a Hedgehog style line up (Nf6, e6, Be7, d6, Nbd7, c5, b6, Bb7, 0-0) or reverse Reti ( Nf6, g6, Bg7, d6, Nbd7, c5, b6, Bb7, 0-0). There are no particular move order issues apart from the observation that against 1. d4 Nf6 2 Bf4, it may be desirable to play an immediate .. c5. That risks a transposition into a semi Benoni structure after 3. d5 but avoids the lines arising after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 where the supposedly unambitious London system player can become a dangerous maniac determined to attack down the h file.

[Roger de Coverly]

I have had some success with Bd6 (it gets them out of the book) but that can't be right.

It's a reversed version of an old line against the Colle (1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 Bf5 4. Bd3 ) I don't recall whether it was considered best to take on d3, retreat to g6 or support the Bishop with g6 or e6. White would have a similar dilemma after 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 e6 3. Nf3 Bd6 or any similar position where a Bishop stand off arose.

[Paul Cooksey]

I think John Cox was expressing the consensus opinion back in 2005 and his line still has a very good reputation if you can get it. Delaying Nf3 in favour of e3 in the d4 d5 version a subsequent improvement specifically to avoid it. One of the main improvements that led to the London's improved theoretical status

That Mike's opponents are caught out by Bd6 surprises me. I'd consider d5 Nf6 e6 c5 Bd6 an absolute mainline, met by Bg3 when taking on g3 opening the h file is dangerous, so white can maintain the tension

Roger's comparison reminds me of this funny line, played by Carlsen amongst others1.d4 d5 2c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 a6 6 Be2 h6 7 Bd3The idea being that it is worth a whole tempo to force black to take on d3 instead of retreating to g6.