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Rapport-Jobava System
A London with a knight eyeing c7
- Sharp play
- Set-up systems
White puts the bishop on f4 and the knight on c3 instead of the quiet c3 and Nbd2 of the usual London System. Together they lean on the c7 pawn, with the jump Nb5 in reserve. White often castles long and sends pawns at the kingside: f3, e4, g4 or h4-h5. There is little theory, the play is sharp, and that is why the system is liked: it pulls the opponent into a fight at once.
4…Na6
Moves
(8 plies • 4 moves)- 1–4moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
Defining move
3.Bf4 — the bishop with a knight on c3
The combination that sets it apart from the ordinary London
In the ordinary London the knight goes to d2 and a pawn to c3. Here the knight stands on c3 and, together with the bishop on f4, creates threats against c7. White gets the chance to strike with Nb5 and attack without slow preparation.
Tabiya
Nb5 against the …e6 set-up
The knight on b5 aims at c7 and d6, and the f4 bishop watches the same diagonal. Black's knight has to go to a6, on the rim, but from there it guards c7. White has gained a tempo and wants to play e3, develop and castle on the side that suits the position. Black looks for a way to bring the knight back into play and to swap off the weak dark squares.
White’s plan
- Press on c7 with the f4 bishop and Nb5.
- Castle long and storm the king with pawns: f3, e4, g4.
- Use the weak dark squares if Black trades the bishops.
Black’s plan
- Do not lose tempi: the direct answer is the …c5 strike at the centre.
- Choose a solid set-up with …e6 or …g6 and trade off the f4 bishop in time.
- Watch the c7 pawn and the tactics against the king.
History
The system is named after grandmasters Richárd Rapport and Baadur Jobava. It came into regular use only in recent years; before that it was seen as a minor sideline.
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