London System

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London System
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
f6 black knight
d5 black pawn
d4 white pawn
f4 white bishop
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 (shown)
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4
ECO D02, A46, A48 (respectively)
Named after 1922 London tournament
Parent Queen's Pawn Game
The London System is a complex of related chess openings that begin with 1.d4 followed by an early Bf4. It comprises a smaller body of opening theory than many other openings and normally results in a closed game. Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević, in the introduction to their 2005 book Win with the London System, state:

Basically the London is a set of solid lines where after 1.d4 White quickly develops his dark-squared bishop to f4 and normally bolsters his centre with [pawns on] c3 and e3 rather than expanding. Although it has the potential for a quick kingside attack, the white forces are generally flexible enough to engage in a battle anywhere on the board. Historically it developed into a system mainly from three variations:

The corresponding Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings codes are D02, A46, and A48.


Description

The line came into fashion in the 1922 London tournament as a way of meeting hypermodern setups. The line gives White a solid position, and critics of the line refer to it as the "old man’s variation" or the "boring system".[2] Even so, the opening can lead to sharp attacks and Vlatko Kovačević and David Bronstein are among the sharp tactical players who have played the London System.[3]

Early play

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4

This position can also be reached by 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4. Black may play 3...e6, then White can play 4.e3 or 4.Nbd2. Black may play 3...c5, then White can play 4.e3 or 4.c3. Black may play 3...Bf5 symmetrical, then White can play 4.e3. Black may play 3...c6, then White can play 4.e3 or 4.c3.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4

Black may play 3...b6, then White can play 4.e3, follows 4...Bb7 5.Nbd2 Be7 or 5.Bd3. Black may play 3...c5, then White can play 4.e3, or 4.c3, follows 4...Nc6 5.e3 or 4...b6. Black may play 3...d5, then White can play 4.e3, follows 4...c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2, 4...Bd6 5.Bd3, or 4..,Be7 5.Bd3; or, 4.Nbd2.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4

Black may play 3...Bg7, then White can play 4.e3 or 4.h3 or 4.Nbd2 or 4.c3. Black may play 3...d6, then White can play 4.e3 or 5.Be2 or 4.h3. Note that 4.e3 is a good move in any case.

Example game

Kotov vs. Petrosian, Gagra 1952

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 0-0 5.Nbd2 c5 6.c3 cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.h3 d6 9.Nc4 b5 10.Ne3 b4 11.d5 bxc3 12.dxc6 cxb2 13.Rb1 Ne4 14.Bd3 Qa5+ 15.Kf1 Ba6 16.Nc4 Bxc4 17.Bxc4 Nc3 18.Qd2 Qa4 19.Bd3 Nxb1 20.Bxb1 Rfc8 21.g3 Rxc6 22.Kg2 Rac8 23.Bh6 Rc1 24.Bxg7 Rxh1 25.Kxh1 Rc1+ 26.Kg2 Rxb1 27.Qh6 Qd1 28.g4 Qh1+ 29.Kg3 Rg1+ 0–1[4]

See also

References

  1. Sverre Johnsen; Vlatko Kovacevic (2005). Win with the London System. Gambit. ISBN 1-904600-35-2. 
  2. Donaldson, John. "London System (review of Win With the London System)". jeremysilman.com. Retrieved 2009-03-21. 
  3. Marsh, Sean. "Colle, Torre, and London System". Chessbase. Retrieved 2009-03-21. 
  4. Alexander Kotov vs Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (1952) "Kotov Guard"

Further reading

  • Lakdawala, Cyrus (2010). Play the London System. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85-7446-39-5. 
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