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The London System

The London System starts with 1. d4 and 2. Bf4. The London System uses the same setup against almost any Black reply.

The London System

White plays d4, Bf4, and e3. The bishop is developed early and the center is solid.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Knights and pawns follow

White plays Nf3 and c3. The setup is complete and White is ready to castle.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Castle kingside

White plays Bd3 and then O-O after developing. The king is safe and the rook is in play.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • The London System begins with a central pawn move and a bishop move to f4.
  • White then plays e3, Nf3, and c3. Those moves form a solid setup.
  • The bishop on f4 develops before the pawn chain closes the diagonal.
  • The London System is easy to learn, because the setup stays the same in many games.
  • White castles kingside after developing. The setup is solid and hard to attack.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

What are the first two White moves of the London System?