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ECO A48Closed game

London System

One setup against almost anything

  • Solid
  • Set-up systems

White brings the dark-squared bishop out to f4 before the e3 pawn can shut in its diagonal, then builds the same scheme every time: d4, e3, c3, a knight on f3 and the other on d2. It is easy to learn and has little theory, which is what draws beginners. Strong players value something else: a familiar position without long preparation, played for a win. Against a Black fianchetto the king's bishop goes to e2 rather than d3.

Interactive Opening Board

6…Nbd7

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White
6…Nbd7
Speed:

Moves

(12 plies • 6 moves)
6…Nbd7Tabiya

The b8 knight comes out to support …e5 and …c5. White has not yet played Nbd2 and c3 or castled, but the scheme is clear.

  1. 1–6moves
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  4. 3.
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  7. 6.

Defining move

3.Bf4 — the bishop before the e3 pawn

The move that makes the position a London System

The dark-squared bishop is often White's problem piece in closed positions, because his own e3 pawn shuts it in. Here White brings it out to f4 in advance, and e3 then only supports it. The remaining moves of the scheme (c3, Nbd2, Be2 or Bd3) hardly depend on what Black does, so little theory is needed.

Tabiya

The London against a King's Indian set-up

White has put pawns on d4, e3 and h3, bishops on f4 and e2 and a knight on f3. The king is still in the centre, and c3 and Nbd2 are needed before castling. Black has castled, played d6 and brought a knight to d7. White wants to finish the setup, keep the f4 bishop and then open the game with e4. Black waits for the moment for …e5 or …c5 to drive the bishop away and open the long diagonal for the g7 bishop.

The centre

A d4-e3-c3 triangle against a fianchetto

White has pawns on d4, e3 and h3, with c3 soon to follow. The chain shuts the g7 bishop off from the queenside. Black has pawns on g6 and d6 and wants to open the centre with …e5 or …c5.

Key squarese5d4f4

Outposts

  • e5The key square of the position

    Black holds e5 with the d6 pawn and the d7 knight, White presses on it with the f4 bishop and the d4 pawn. Whoever wins this fight wins the centre.

  • h2The f4 bishop's haven

    Thanks to h3 the bishop can drop back to h2 after …Nh5 or …e5 and stay on the b8-h2 diagonal. It is not lost for a pawn and no tempo is wasted.

Thematic breaks

  • e5Black

    The …e7-e5 strike

    Attack d4 and the f4 bishop in one move and take the centre.

    What follows: White has to move the bishop and Black takes the centre. If the bishop has a safe square, such as h2, nothing is lost, but Black gets free play.

  • c5Black

    The …c7-c5 strike

    Hit d4 together with the g7 bishop and open the c-file.

    What follows: White answers c3 and the pawn centre holds, but Black gets counterplay on the queenside, for instance with …Qb6.

  • e4White

    The e3-e4 break

    Take the centre with pawns and open the bishops once the pieces are developed.

    What follows: Extra space in the centre gives White the initiative. But the g7 bishop's road opens too, and a slip in preparation costs dearly.

White’s plan

  • Finish the setup: c3, Nbd2, castling.
  • Keep the f4 bishop safe and watch for the strikes …e5 and …c5.
  • Prepare e4 and open the centre once the pieces are in place.

Black’s plan

  • Strike at d4 with …c5, …Nc6 or …Qb6.
  • Prepare …e5 and drive the f4 bishop away.
  • Harass the bishop with …Nh5 and use the g7 bishop's long diagonal.

History

The system takes its name from the 1922 London tournament, where the setup with a bishop on f4 turned up in several games by Capablanca and Alekhine. For a long time it was thought modest; today it is one of the most popular openings among club players. In recent years Magnus Carlsen has turned to it as well.

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