London System: Overview and How to Play it, Attack it, Counter it Study Chess Pro

London System | Study Chess Pro
5 min readJan 17, 2023

WHAT IS LONDON SYSTEM IN CHESS?

The London System is a relatively basic opening system in chess, mainly employed by club players due to its effectiveness and simplicity. It starts with the moves 1.d4, 2.Nf3 followed by 3.Bf4 (Be3 or Bg5 could also be used instead) can help White avoid mainline openings while leading to solid positions that maximise their pieces’ mobility, pressure on d5, and control of dark-squares on the queenside. This system avoids early Queen development and seeks to expand quickly in order to build a formidable center from which a crushing attack may be launched later in the game; the pawn structure can be adjusted depending on Black’s response for an even stronger central position

What is the main idea of the London system?

The main concept of the London system is to simply develop your pieces on active squares while creating an UNBREAKABLE pawn structure in the centre.

The London System is an opening strategy that centers around quickly developing the two bishops and castles of a player, while keeping their remaining pieces in reserve. It involves quickly controlling the center and establishing control over the d4 and e5 squares. It has been used by many world-class players including Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand and is considered to be one of the most solid openings as there are few weaknesses to exploit early on. The focus of this system is to create pressure on opposing pieces, decrease their mobility and target weak points in their position, all without making too many risky moves that could leave you vulnerable.

Where do you put your pieces in London System?

When it comes to the London System of Chess, knowing where to place your pieces can be tricky. It’s a particularly developing opening that takes advantage of white’s lead in development and spacial control. While the position may look unassuming at first, there are certain key pieces you should aim to develop: The Queen’s Knight needs to be developed quickly to e4 or d3, depending on what black responds with; likewise, you should also aim to develop your Bishop opposite coloured from the enemy king; lastly, the rooks should try and situate on their respective d-file for maximum open space. These simple steps will help ensure that you properly set up an aggressive strategy using this dynamic system!

Why is it called London system?

Top players like Akiba Rubinstein participated in the 1922 London Tournament, an international competition that took place in the central hall of Westminster from July 31 to August 19, 1922.

It gained popularity as a London method because of this.

IS LONDON SYSTEM GOOD FOR BEGINNERS?

For those getting into the world of chess, the London System might be a great way to start. The London System is based on concrete positions that are easy to learn and help you understand key concepts in chess quickly, like how a knight and bishop can work in harmony. It also helps beginners develop their skills by forcing them to think about long-term planning, as well as providing lots of opportunities for aggressive play styles. Plus, it’s surprisingly versatile — variations can make it suitable for more advanced players too. All in all, the London System is an ideal choice for newbies looking to get a handle on the fundamentals of chess and even further their abilities!

LONDON SYSTEM OPENING MOVES STEP BY STEP

The London System is an opening move frequently used in the game of Chess and is used by both beginners and experienced players. Starting with d4, the aim of this move is to control the e5 square while providing a strong pawn formation on the kingside. The next step is to play Nf3, bringing your knight into play with flexible attacking capabilities and also activating your bishop. You’ll then develop your queen to d3 for support before playing c3, stopping opponents from invading your territory via e4.

Next, Castling Kingside allows you to develop and later free the dark squares in your position, as well as defend any passed pawns lurking around those squares. Finally playing Be3 gives you control over the d4 square, letting you either double there or push another piece into action. This system provides consistent success if done correctly — so make sure to practice it when you can!

There are two popular terms related to the London system.

1. Accelerated London system

2. Jobava London system

WHAT IS ACCELERATED LONDON SYSTEM?

The Accelerated London System is a chess opening system that is based on the London System but has some additional opening moves to allow for faster deployment of pieces. The idea behind this system is to gain control of more central areas earlier on, reducing your opponent’s development potential and providing better protection for your own King. It’s considered a hypermodern variant of the classic Queen-Pawn game since it relies heavily on controlling both center squares without actually occupying them with pieces. This makes it an ideal weapon against those who cling too tightly to classical principles — like leaving their King in the center for too long or using slow and outdated defensive moves. Therefore, Accelerated London gives you plenty of options for counterattacking before your opponent can properly finish their castle setup!

WHAT IS JOBAVA LONDON SYSTEM?

The Jobava London System is an opening strategy for the game of chess developed by Grandmaster Baadur Jobava. It’s a somewhat aggressive system that involves rapid development of the light-squared bishop, rapid castling, and playing with a pawn majority on the queenside. Most games using this system will involve lively and sharp tactical play since White will typically have open lines of attack with their pieces. Despite its aggressiveness, the Jobava London System can be used successfully against both strong and weak opponents since it offers White solid positional advantages due to control over important central squares such as d4 and e5. While most players consider The Jobava London System to be a great choice for rapid or blitz games, there are some that still use it in serious tournaments.

If you’re looking for a chess opening to use in casual play, then the Accelerated London or Jobava London System might be worth considering. The Accelerated London offers a bit more flexibility on your opening moves and can lead to a solid assault on the enemy’s position. In contrast, Jobava’s system is much less flexible but it benefits from a focus on attacking the center quickly while trying to gain control of important squares. Whichever you choose, both offer interesting and challenging options that can help make your games more balanced and enjoyable as well as hone your skills with these openings.

Conclusion

Learn London System with Study Chess Pro, it is a great way to improve your chess skills. With our help, you can study the key concepts and moves of the London System any time you want. It will help you understand the core strategic ideas, know how to play sound attacking plans, develop creative plans, and learn when and why to deviate from mainlines. Additionally, we provide a range of exciting activities so that you can practice what you learned — interactive practice games, puzzles, in-depth analysis exercises, and video studies. Unexpectedly defensive opponents won’t be a surprise anymore! You’ll feel more confident as your decision-making skills are tested using built-in engines or solutions from top players which are designed for all levels — from beginner players up to advanced ones.

--

--

London System | Study Chess Pro
0 Followers

London System Made Easy: Step by Step Guide by Study Chess Pro. Chess Pro brings you best information about chess to help you Learn chess from the best in world