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The London System: A Simple, Solid Opening for White

How to play the London System - the setup, the plans against ...d5 and the King's Indian, Black's main tries like ...Qb6, and why it is so popular online.

· 2 min read

The London System is the most popular "system" opening in chess. Instead of memorising lines, White sets up the same solid structure in almost every game - pawns on c3, d4 and e3, the bishop outside the chain on f4, knights on f3 and d2, the other bishop on d3 - and then plays the middlegame from a familiar position.

It takes its name from a tournament in London in 1922, where several masters used it. For decades it had a reputation as dull. Then Magnus Carlsen and other top players began using it, and it became one of the most played openings online.

The setup

The London setup: pawns on c3-d4-e3, bishops on f4 (or g3) and d3, knights on f3 and d2. White then castles and chooses a plan.

Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3

Open this position on the analysis board

The key points:

  • Bf4 comes early, before e3 - otherwise the pawn on e3 would shut the bishop in.
  • c3 supports d4 and takes the b4 square away from Black's knight and bishop.
  • When Black offers to trade bishops with ...Bd6, White usually retreats to g3. If Black takes on g3, White recaptures with the h-pawn, which opens the h-file for a rook.

White's plans

  1. Kingside attack. With the bishop on d3 aiming at h7 and a knight jumping to e5, White often attacks with Qf3 or Qh5, or pushes the g- and h-pawns.
  2. Knight to e5. Supported by d4 and the bishop on f4, a knight on e5 is hard to remove and puts pressure on f7 and d7.
  3. Central break. In some positions White opens the centre with c4 or e4.

Black's main tries

The early ...c5 and ...Qb6

Black's most annoying idea is to attack b2, which the London bishop has left behind:

The queen on b6 attacks b2. 5. Qb3 offers a queen trade; after ...Qxb3 axb3, White's doubled pawns are less weak than they look, because the a-file opens for the rook.

Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 Qb6 5. Qb3

Open this position on the analysis board

Against ...Qb6, Qb3 (offering a trade) or Qc2 (defending b2 while keeping queens) are the usual answers. Don't play b3, which weakens c3.

The King's Indian setup

Against a fianchetto, the bishop belongs on e2 rather than d3 (it has nothing to attack on h7), and h3 keeps a retreat square for the f4 bishop if Black plays ...Nh5.

Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. h3

Open this position on the analysis board

When Black fianchettoes, the h7 square is well defended, so White plays more calmly: Be2, h3 (so the bishop can retreat to h2 if attacked by ...Nh5), castle, and then a central push with c4 or e4.

Strengths and weaknesses

Why play it:

  • Very little theory - the same setup against almost everything.
  • Solid: it is hard to lose quickly.
  • Positions you get to know deeply, because they repeat.

The downsides:

  • You learn less about open, tactical positions.
  • Against well-prepared opponents, it rarely gives White a big advantage.
  • It can become routine - many coaches suggest learning a classical opening like the Italian Game as well.

Try it

Play the London against the computer on our Play page, then put your games through the analysis board. For the bigger picture, see the best chess openings for beginners.

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