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London System for White

One setup, , and , against and , with a plan for each Black idea: against the d5 pawn, against and against .

17 lines in 2 chapters.

The first lesson is free. The rest of the course opens with Premium:

The plans in this course

The queenside break

Attack the d5 pawn and open lines for your queen and rooks.

When Black has a pawn on d5 and you have already played and , you play . That pawn attacks d5 and clears c2, so your queen can now come out via b3 or a4. With you add a second attacker on d5. If pawns are traded, on c4 or on d5, your c-pawn is gone and the c-file has no white pawn in front of your rooks; if Black takes with , you recapture with and the bishop from f1 joins the game. The idea also works when Black starts with and plays later.

1 in 10 masters chooses it here.See dataHide

Over-the-board games, 2300+: 13% of 495. Online, 2200+: 16% of 13,939.

Holding the centre

Keep your centre pawn firm when Black attacks it.

With , Black attacks your d4 pawn. You support it with : now two pawns defend it, the one on e3 and the one on c3. If Black takes with , you recapture with a pawn and d4 is still held by a white pawn. Since c3 is already taken, the knight on b1 comes out via d2.

4 in 10 masters choose it here.See dataHide

Over-the-board games, 2300+: 42% of 377. Online, 2200+: 52% of 8,370.

The bishop keeps its diagonal

Keep the bishop that watches e5 without trading it yourself.

With , Black's bishop faces yours on f4 and offers a trade. Instead of trading yourself, you retreat with : the bishop stays on the h2–b8 diagonal and keeps watching e5. If you trade on d6 yourself, you give up the bishop that watches e5. If Black takes with , you recapture with : the h-file has no white pawn left and your h1 rook already attacks the h7 pawn without moving.

3 in 10 masters choose it here.See dataHide

Over-the-board games, 2300+: 27% of 164. Online, 2200+: 39% of 4,950.

If Black pushes the queen's pawn after

0 of 10 done

You will learn to develop with and , to break with against the d5 pawn, to hold d4 with against , and to meet with .

The most common mistake, on move 2; 0 players in 100 play it. develops nothing and takes the natural square away from the g1 knight. It prepares , but after Black attacks your d4 and e4 pawns at once. After you still have not developed any kingside piece.

The queenside breakHolding the centreThe bishop keeps its diagonal

  1. NextIf follows Black's bishopThe queenside break3 moves of yoursStart
  2. Not startedIf Black holds d5 with The queenside break4 moves of yoursPaid
  3. Not startedIf Black hits d4 with Holding the centre4 moves of yoursPaid
  4. Not startedIf d5 stays and comesThe queenside break4 moves of yoursPaid
  5. Not startedIf Black takes with The queenside break4 moves of yoursPaid
  6. Not startedIf , then bishop to d6The bishop keeps its diagonal5 moves of yoursPaid
  7. Not startedIf , then bishop to d6The bishop keeps its diagonal4 moves of yoursPaid
  8. Not startedIf pins your f3 knightThe queenside break5 moves of yoursPaid
  9. Not startedIf pins your c3 knightThe queenside break5 moves of yoursPaid
  10. Not startedIf Black trades with The bishop keeps its diagonal5 moves of yoursPaid

If Black starts with the knight after

You will learn that against the knight you carry on the same way, with and , and to apply the same ideas: against , against , and against .

The most common mistake, on move 2; 1 players in 100 play it. develops nothing and takes the f3 square away from the g1 knight. Black answers , and after your d4 and e4 pawns are attacked by the pawns on c5 and d5. Only your queen defends d4.

The queenside breakHolding the centreThe bishop keeps its diagonal