What are...

I was just wondering, what are the colle and london systems?

Openings.
Google them and you'll have all the info you need.

Originally posted by Bad wolf
I was just wondering, what are the colle and london systems?

Both systems begin 1.d4 2.Nf3, and aim to make the pawn advance e3-e4.

The Colle System adopts the set-up d4, Nf3, e3, Bd3, c3(if Black plays ...c5), 0-0, Re1, Nd2, Qc2, storing up energy for the e-pawn advance in order to open the game favourably for White. It is, however, considered obselete as Black can equalise quite quickly, around the 8th move.

The London System is much the same, except the Queen's Bishop is played to f4 before P-e3, so it is not shut in by the pawn chain.

Originally posted by lukemcmullan
Both systems begin 1.d4 2.Nf3, and aim to make the pawn advance e3-e4.

The Colle System adopts the set-up d4, Nf3, e3, Bd3, c3(if Black plays ...c5), 0-0, Re1, Nd2, Qc2, storing up energy for the e-pawn advance in order to open the game favourably for White. It is, however, considered obselete as Black can equalise quite quickly, around the 8th move ...[text shortened]... except the Queen's Bishop is played to f4 before P-e3, so it is not shut in by the pawn chain.

Cheers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chess_openings