English Chess Forum

Worrying news here that the London System is more popular than the Berlin Defence.

Better than the American's launching their Chuck Norris at Hitler but not as funny?

Post Brexit is the London System the only opening that can be played by a London based ENG rated chess player?
More of the same please.

That's quite a funny idea, adapting that sequence with Hitler. I wonder if it will be picked up by anybody else?

Been having great fun at blitz with 2...e5.

rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/8/3pp3/3P1B2/8/PPP1PPPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 3

Now trying it in a themed tournament. Calling it's 'Edinburgh's Revenge'
harking back to the days when Edinburgh beat London in the famous
correspondence match. 1824-28. (giving birth to the Scotch Game/Gambit,
not because Edinburgh played but because John Cochrane who was Scottish
convinced London to play it first. Edinburgh liked the idea and returned
the compliment by playing it in later games. Here is Cochrane playing a
really good game with the Scotch http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1258180
3 years before the Edinburgh - London match.)

OK The Revenge is not 100% sound but it gives me and fellow kindred spirits the type of game
we like playing, the look on the White player's face is amazing as you watch reams of analysis
disappear out of his earhole.

Most popular reply seems to be 3.dxe5 then 3...Be6 (No Ne5's in this game)
And play it like an Elephant which I told is night is dubious.

Good job I know my Tartakower who when noting up an opening move reflected:

"Dubious, therefore playable."

The London System is becoming very trendy at Chess Congresses.
I have faced it a few times at Scarborough and Blackpool the last couple of years.
One of our members at Poulton Chess Club plays it aswell.

Lichess is a neverending London System theme tournament as far as I can see

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 25, 2018 1:30 pm

Been having great fun at blitz with 2...e5.

Isn't 2...Bg4 an improvement? Even more winning against someone who is premoving 3 e3, and much less lost against people who are not.

There have been a number of books published over recent years on the London System which is why it has become more trendy amongst club and congress players.
Included are:
1.First Steps: the Colle and London Systems by Cyrus Lakdawala published by Everyman Chess 2016
2.Play the London System by Cyrus Lakdawala published by Everyman Chess 2010.
3.Win with the London System by Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovacevic published by Gambit 2006.

I feel obliged to confess to adding the sub-titles to the Bruno Ganz bunker rant in the incredible film Downfall (2004) that Justin highlights.

I've been meaning to redo the meme with better timing of the captions

It was a joy that Steiner is referred to vocally.

I was particularly pleased with the line at 3'5"

Paul Cooksey wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 24, 2020 6:37 pm

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 25, 2018 1:30 pm

Been having great fun at blitz with 2...e5.

Isn't 2...Bg4 an improvement? Even more winning against someone who is premoving 3 e3, and much less lost against people who are not.

Heh, might give that a pop to relieve the monotony

I was facing a known London system player in a DCCA game the other day, and so met his 1.d4 with 1...c5 just to forestall it.

Eight games against 1 d4 on lichess today, six Londons.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:43 pm

Paul Cooksey wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 24, 2020 6:37 pm

Geoff Chandler wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 25, 2018 1:30 pm

Been having great fun at blitz with 2...e5.

Isn't 2...Bg4 an improvement? Even more winning against someone who is premoving 3 e3, and much less lost against people who are not.

Heh, might give that a pop to relieve the monotony

Surprisingly 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Bg4 is the line recommended by Wisnewski in his book (surprising because the book is called 'play 1...Nc6!'); his point is that if black wants a Chigorin after 2...Nc6 it's likely to be met with 3.e3 giving the London player what they want.

Irrespective of the merits of the system, I sometimes wonder if players of the white pieces actually enjoy the games.

Stop playing 2....e5 v the London, kept involved in QGD's so reverted back to the KID or QUID.
Might give 2...Bg4 a try. 1.d5 d5 2.Bg5 is a playable line so why not?

I think White players play it because it avoids sharper lines. If I was a 1.d4 player (I've played it 3 times.)
I too would think about playing it because it upsets the Black player. It's only good because nutcases like me try to refute it.
(you want to avoid the sharp stuff...OK Buster...catch this! and you fire pawns at them.)

As White I was usually quite tame. No need to do anything silly I already have a slight plus. I played the delayed exchange in the Lopez.
As Black it was Latvians, Falkbeers, Benko's, Elephants, Englund's anything to steal the initiative, even at the cost of a pawn or two.