Chess Drills
London System: one setup, simple plans, two traps
The London System is a 'system' opening: you put your pieces on the same squares in almost every game. Pawn to d4, bishop to f4, pawns to e3 and c3, knights to f3 and d2, bishop to d3. Because the setup stays the same, you need much less theory (known moves) than in most openings.
The key is your dark-squared bishop (the one on c1). It comes out to f4 before you push the pawn to e3, so it doesn't get locked in behind your pawns. Your pawns on c3, d4 and e3 form a solid triangle, and later you often attack Black's king with a knight on e5, the queen on f3 or the h-pawn.
Good fit for: Players with little time for theory who want one reliable setup, solid positions and simple plans; it is also popular in fast games.
Drill these 5 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Bishop out before the e-pawn. Bring the bishop to f4 before you push the pawn to e3. Otherwise the bishop is stuck behind its own pawns.
- The pawn triangle. Your pawns on c3, d4 and e3 form a solid triangle. The pawn on d4 is very hard for Black to attack.
- Keep your bishop. When Black offers to trade bishops on d6, or chases yours with a knight to h5, drop the bishop back to g3. After the pawn to h3 it can also go to h2. Either way it stays on its diagonal.
- Knight to e5 and attack. Once both sides have castled, the typical plan is a knight on e5, with the queen joining via f3 or h5 to attack the king.
The main lines
Main line: Black plays the pawns to d5 and c5
This is Black's most common setup. You build yours with the pawn to c3, the knight to d2 and the bishop to d3. When Black offers to trade bishops, you keep yours by dropping it back to g3. Then both sides castle.
- Your plan: a knight on e5 and an attack on the kingside, where Black's king is.
- Black's plan: play on the queenside with the pawn to c4 or b5.
- Why g3? Your bishop stays on its diagonal instead of being traded.
Early queen to b6: protect your pawn on b2
Black pushes the c-pawn to c5 early and brings the queen to b6 to attack your pawn on b2. The main answer is to defend with your own queen. Your queen goes to b3, and when Black pushes the pawn to c4, it steps back to c2 and later c1.
- Your plan: cover b2 first, then finish your normal setup.
- Why the queen to b3? It defends b2 and offers to trade queens.
- Watch out: whatever you play, make sure b2 is protected. See the second trap below.
Black copies you: the bishop goes to f5
Black copies your setup and brings the light-squared bishop (the one on c8) to f5. Now that bishop no longer protects the pawn on b7. You hit back with the pawn to c4 and later the queen to b3, to attack b7 and d5.
- Your plan: pawn to c4, then queen to b3 to put pressure on b7.
- Good to know: when Black's bishop gives check from b4, block it with your knight on c3.
- See the first trap below: there your queen on b3 attacks two things at once.
Against the King's Indian setup: Black's bishop on g7
Black plays a fianchetto (bishop on the long diagonal after g6). You push your h-pawn to h3, develop your other bishop to e2 and castle.
- Why h3? If a knight chases your bishop, it can drop back to h2 and stay on its diagonal.
- Black's plan: a pawn push to c5 or e5 to fight for the centre.
- Your plan: keep your pawns solid. You are happy with a quiet game.
Against the Queen's Indian setup: Black's bishop on b7
Black puts a pawn on b6 and the bishop on b7. From there the bishop controls the square e4. You fight for e4 with the pawn to h3, the bishop to d3 and the knight to d2.
- Your plan: later push your e-pawn to e4 to gain space.
- Why fight for e4? Black's bishop on b7 is aimed right at it.
Traps and mistakes to avoid
Queen to b3 against an early bishop on f5
Black's bishop has left c8 for f5, so the pawn on b7 has lost a defender. Now your queen comes to b3. It attacks Black's bishop on b4 and, once that bishop moves, the pawn on b7 as well. Black has to find a good answer; careless moves lose material.
Leaving b2 undefended against the queen on b6
This is the position after Black's queen comes to b6. It attacks your pawn on b2, and nothing defends it. Answer with 5.Qb3 or 5.Qc2. A careless developing move loses the pawn, and after the queen takes on b2, your rook on a1 is attacked too.
Questions
London System or Colle System?
Both are quiet setups after 1.d4. In the London your dark-squared bishop goes to f4 before the pawn goes to e3. In the Colle the bishop stays at home and you prepare the push to e4. The London is more flexible; the Colle leads to more direct attacks on the king.
Is the London System boring?
It is solid, but far from boring. Many games turn into attacks on the king with a knight on e5, the queen on f3 or the h-pawn. And because you know the setup, you have more time to think in the middlegame.
What if Black pushes the c-pawn to c5 early?
Stay calm. Push your pawn to c3, and protect b2 when Black's queen comes to b6. The rest of the setup stays the same.
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