London System
One setup against almost everything. It is popular at club level and often criticized for producing repetitive games.
| First moves | 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 (or 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4) |
|---|---|
| ECO codes | D00 (1...d5 2.Bf4), D02 (2.Nf3 then Bf4), A45 (1...Nf6 2.Bf4), A46 and A48 (1...Nf6 2.Nf3 then Bf4) |
| Character | System-based, low theory, solid |
| Best for | Players short on study time who want the same positions every game |
Open any line on the analysis board, or play it out against a bot from where it ends.
Related openings
Queen's Gambit
One of the oldest openings in chess, mentioned in the Göttingen manuscript of 1490 and still played at the top level today. The Slav and the Semi-Slav both grow out of its first moves.
English Opening
A flank opening that fights for d5 from the side and often transposes into 1.d4 openings. It is named after Howard Staunton, who played it in his 1843 match against Saint-Amant.
Slav Defense
Think of it as the Queen's Gambit Declined without the bad bishop. It is one of the most solid answers to 1.d4.
Jobava London
The aggressive cousin of the London System: Nc3 instead of c3, the queen to d2 and often long castling with a pawn storm.
The setup
The London is a system, not a variation: White plays d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, c3, Bd3, Nbd2 and O-O in almost any order, against almost anything. The one fixed detail is that the bishop comes out to f4 before e3 shuts it in.
From there White has two standard plans: the kingside build-up with Ne5, Qf3 or Qe2, and a pawn storm; or the central break c3-c4 to open the position once Black has committed.
Why club players love it
You reach the same structure every game, so your pattern knowledge compounds instead of being spread thin across twelve variations. On Lichess below 2000, only 2.c4 is played more often than 2.Bf4 after 1.d4 d5. The setup is also sound: Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian and Gata Kamsky have played it, and Ding Liren chose it in game 6 of the 2023 World Championship match.
The cost is that against a prepared opponent you have fewer winning chances than with a main-line opening, because Black can equalize with accurate play. Your wins with the London come from understanding the middlegame.
How to play against the London as Black
The London is at its best against passive setups. Challenge it early:
- Play ...c5 quickly. It hits d4 before White has finished the setup. On Lichess, 2...c5 is the only common reply to 2.Bf4 that scores about as well for Black as for White below 2000, and better above 2000.
- Play ...Qb6. With the bishop on f4, b2 is loose. Once White has played c3, the usual answers are Qb3 and Qc2, with b3 and Qc1 less common. Before c3, the most common reply on Lichess above 2000 is Nc3, offering the b2-pawn, and White scores well with it.
- Consider ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 early, developing your problem bishop before ...e6 locks it in. The Caro-Kann is built on the same idea.
- Do not mirror passively with ...e6, ...Be7, ...O-O and no break. That is exactly the position the London player wants.
The Jobava London (Bf4 combined with Nc3 instead of c3, often followed by Qd2 and O-O-O) is a different animal: far sharper, aimed at a quick attack, and increasingly common online. Prepare for it separately.
Frequently asked questions
Is the London System good for beginners?
It is one of the best practical choices for a beginner with limited study time: there is one setup to learn and little theory, and you get a solid position every game. Be aware that you are trading long-term learning about open positions for short-term reliability.
Is the London System boring?
The main line is quiet by design, but the Ne5 kingside attack and the Jobava variation are aggressive. The London is often criticized for repetitive games, but the setup only gets you to the middlegame, and you still need a plan from there.
What is the best answer to the London System?
The most testing approach is an early ...c5 combined with ...Qb6, hitting d4 and b2 at the same time. Getting your light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain with ...Bf5 before playing ...e6 is the other key idea.