Explore from here
Train this openingAbout this opening
White develops the bishop outside the pawn chain and sets up the same structure against almost anything, which is why the London has become so popular with players who would rather not memorize lines. Bg7 is the most played reply here. The setup is solid but it is not aggressive, and it concedes the center: White has no pawn on e4 and no immediate threat, so you have time to build. Look at the score from here, which reflects that a system played on autopilot gives the better-prepared player room to seize the initiative rather than a lasting advantage.
Plans
- Play Bg7 and pressure the center from the long diagonal.
- Play c5 to hit the base of White's pawn chain.
- Play d6 and e5 to take the center White has not claimed.
- Trade the dark-squared bishops to blunt White's best piece.
Where the pieces belong
- Bishop: g7, aiming at the center and the queenside
- Pawn: c5, striking the pawn chain at its base
- Pawn: e5, the break that takes the center outright
- Knight: c6, supporting both central breaks
- Queen: b6, hitting b2 while the bishop sits away from home
Solid but unambitious for White. Take the center that has been left alone, and the system's fixed setup becomes a liability rather than a comfort.
Variations
London System
Bg7 4. e3