London System - 1. d4
London System - 1. d4
Classic first move of the London.
Overview
The London System (ECO D00 to D02 depending on move order) is the system-opening par excellence: White builds the same setup — 1.d4, the bishop to f4 BEFORE e3, then the c3-d4-e3 pawn pyramid — against almost every Black reply. Its name comes from the London 1922 tournament, where the scheme was used repeatedly by the elite of the day. Long considered a modest choice, it has enjoyed a spectacular modern rehabilitation: world-class players have adopted it all the way up to world championship level, and its aggressive variant with Nc3 (the "Jobava London", named after Georgian grandmaster Baadur Jobava) has turned it into a genuine attacking weapon.
The London philosophy rests on two ideas. First, structural solidity: the c3-d4-e3 pyramid offers no targets, and the dark-squared bishop — the "bad bishop" of so many d4 openings — is developed to f4 before e3 can lock it in. Second, theoretical economy: where the Queen’s Gambit requires knowing dozens of variations, the London asks you to understand a handful of typical plans, reusable from game to game.
That does not make it a passive opening. White’s setup points naturally at the kingside: a knight on e5, f4 support, the queen on f3 or h5, and the h-file that opens after the …Bxg3 hxg3 exchange. Many White miniatures are born from this attacking machine that the opponent failed to take seriously. Black, for their part, gets healthy queenside counterplay with …c5, …Qb6 (the b2-pawn is the system’s Achilles heel) and then the …c4 and …b5-b4 expansion.
The London ideally suits two profiles: the player starting out with 1.d4 who wants a reliable repertoire without heavy memorisation, and the positional player who prefers manoeuvring on familiar structures. Its main danger is internal: played on autopilot, without an active plan, it goes flat and lets the opponent’s initiative take hold. Properly understood, it offers one of the best study-time-to-results ratios in all of opening theory.
The main line, move by move
Every move is explained: play through them in order to understand the opening’s logic.
- 1. d4Classic first move of the London.
- 1… d5Solid central response.
- 2. Bf4Signature move: the bishop develops before e3.
- 2… Nf6Development of the king’s knight.
- 3. e3Reinforces d4 and opens the diagonal.
- 3… c5Typical central counterattack.
- 4. c3Supports d4: e3-d4-c3 pyramid.
- 4… Nc6Classical development.
- 5. Nd2Flexible knight, frees f3.
- 5… e6Opens the king’s bishop’s diagonal.
- 6. Ngf3Completes development.
- 6… Bd6Offers to trade the active bishop.
- 7. Bg3Avoids the exchange, keeps the pair.
- 7… O-OBlack castles.
- 8. Bd3Activates the king’s bishop.
- 8… b6Prepares the fianchetto.
- 9. O-OWhite castles.
- 9… Bb7Fianchetto completed.
- 10. Ne5Knight on the central strong square.
- 10… Rc8Rook on the half-open file.
- 11. f4Supports the e5 knight, attacks.
- 11… Ne7Knight manoeuvre.
- 12. Qf3Active queen on the third rank.
- 12… c4Closes the position in the centre.
- 13. Bc2Bishop retreat.
- 13… b5Space on the queenside.
- 14. a3Prepares an advance.
- 14… a5Counterattack on the queenside.
- 15. Rae1Centralises the rook.
- 15… b4Opens lines.
- 16. axb4Pawn exchange.
- 16… axb4Pawn recapture.
Plans for both sides
White’s plan
White’s London plan is a four-step scheme, almost independent of the opponent’s moves. Step one: the setup — Bf4 before e3, c3 to solidify d4, Bd3 on the attacking diagonal, knights on f3 (or d2 then f3) and castling. Move order matters little, with two exceptions: watch for …Qb6 against b2, and answer …Bd6 correctly (the Bg3 retreat keeps the bishop pair, and the hxg3 recapture after the exchange opens the h-file — an asset, not damage). Step two: the e5 outpost. The knight settles there, supported by d4 and then f4. It is the pivot of the whole attack: it points at f7, supports the thematic sacrifices (the Nxf7 blow from this guide’s trap is the illustration) and forces Black into uncomfortable decisions — exchanging it opens lines for White, tolerating it lets the attack grow. Step three: the kingside swing. Queen to f3 or e2 (even h5 in the fast versions), rooks centralised on e1, and depending on the position’s shape: the e3-e4 push to energise the centre, or f4-f5 to open lines against the castled king. When the h-file is open, the h1-rook joins the attack without even moving — half a tempo of attack for free. Step four: the race. The London accepts a characteristic imbalance: Black advances on the queenside (…c4, …b5-b4, …a5), White on the kingside. The practical rule: do not get distracted — every defensive move on the queenside is a tempo lost for the attack. React there only when the threat is concrete (a3 to slow …b4, Bc2 to save the bishop after …c4), and invest everything else against the enemy king.
Black’s plan
Black’s counterplay against the London rests on a simple truth: White’s setup is solid but slow, and its structural weak point is b2, no longer defended once the bishop has left for f4. Black’s first plan is therefore a quick …c5 followed by …Qb6: the double pressure against d4 and b2 forces White into a concession (defending passively, or offering the b2-pawn in a gambit you need to know — see this guide’s traps). Second lever: neutralising the f4-bishop. The move …Bd6 offers to trade White’s key piece; after the Bg3 retreat, the …Bxg3 hxg3 exchange remains an option, but its timing must be chosen carefully — it opens the h-file for the opponent’s attack (see the common mistakes). The alternative is the …Ne4 manoeuvre: planted in the heart of the position, supported by …f5 if needed, the knight disturbs all of White’s coordination. Third plan: queenside expansion, Black’s true terrain. After …c4 (pushing back the d3-bishop and fixing the structure), the …b5, …a5 and …b4 advances gain space, open files for the rooks and eventually create a potential passed pawn. The rook on c8 on the half-open file and the bishop on b7 complete the setup. Defensive discipline does the rest: do not weaken the castled position without necessity, keep a defender near the king (the knight on e7 or f6), and watch for the two alarm signals of the London attack — the knight anchoring on e5 and the queen swinging to f3 or h5. The …f6 lever, challenging the e5 outpost, is a key resource when White’s attack gathers pace: better to question the knight early than to suffer the sacrifice on f7.
Main variations
Indian Defense
ECO D00Black plays Nf6 and g6 to fianchetto; the London stays solid.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Aggressive variation popularised by Baadur Jobava: Nc3 instead of e3.
Horwitz Defense
ECO C11Frequent line: the 1…e6 reply (~9% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Queen’s Pawn Game: Accelerated London System (2…Nc6)
ECO D00Frequent line: the 2…Nc6 reply (~17% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 2…c5 reply (~9% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Queen’s Pawn Game: Accelerated London System (2…Bf5)
ECO D00Frequent line: the 2…Bf5 reply (~14% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO A45Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 2…d5 reply (~22% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 2…d6 reply (~15% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Queen’s Pawn Game: Accelerated London System (2…e6)
ECO D00Frequent line: the 2…e6 reply (~20% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D02Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 2…e6 reply (~23% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 3…a6 reply (~14% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 3…Nc6
ECO D00Frequent line: the 3…Nc6 reply (~11% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 3…Nc6 reply (~10% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Horwitz Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…e6, the 3…c5 reply (~9% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 3…c5 reply (~8% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 3…c6 reply (~14% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 3…Bf5
ECO D00Frequent line: the 3…Bf5 reply (~21% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 3…Bf5 reply (~20% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Horwitz Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…e6, the 3…dxe4 reply (~23% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 3…d6 reply (~8% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 3…e6
ECO D00Frequent line: the 3…e6 reply (~30% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Horwitz Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…e6, the 3…Bb4 reply (~24% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 4…a6 reply (~11% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 4…c5 reply (~19% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 4…d6 reply (~35% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 4…Qb6
ECO D00Frequent line: the 4…Qb6 reply (~12% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 4…e6
ECO D00Frequent line: the 4…e6 reply (~10% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 4…Bb4 reply (~14% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Rapport-Jobava System
ECO D00Frequent line: 3.Nc3, the 4…Be7 reply (~9% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 5…cxd4
ECO D00Frequent line: the 5…cxd4 reply (~8% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 5…Bf5
ECO D00Frequent line: the 5…Bf5 reply (~32% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 5…Bg4
ECO D00Frequent line: the 5…Bg4 reply (~8% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 5…d5 reply (~13% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 5…Qb6
ECO D00Frequent line: the 5…Qb6 reply (~27% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 6…Nc6 reply (~19% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 6…Nbd7 reply (~37% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 6…cxd4
ECO D00Frequent line: the 6…cxd4 reply (~14% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 6…Qb6
ECO D00Frequent line: the 6…Qb6 reply (~9% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 6…Be7
ECO D00Frequent line: the 6…Be7 reply (~17% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Indian Defense
ECO D00Frequent line: 1…Nf6, the 7…cxd4 reply (~34% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 7…Bxg3
ECO D00Frequent line: the 7…Bxg3 reply (~12% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 8…c4
ECO D00Frequent line: the 8…c4 reply (~10% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 8…cxd4
ECO D00Frequent line: the 8…cxd4 reply (~11% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
London System — 8…Re8
ECO D00Frequent line: the 8…Re8 reply (~21% at peer level). Engine-verified continuation.
Typical pawn structures
London Pawn Chain Structure: d4-e3-f4
The London pawn chain on d4, e3, and f4 forms a compact and solid structure that controls the squares e5 and e4, preventing Black from establishing pieces there. The square e5 is particularly important, as White aims to use it as an outpost for a knight. In return, the a7-g1 diagonal and the square e4 can become pressure points for Black if White is not careful. Black’s pawns on c5, d5, and b5 apply active pressure on the queenside. White’s natural pawn lever is e3-e4, which would break open the position and activate the well-placed pieces: the queen on c2 targets h7, the bishop on d3 covers a strong diagonal, and a knight on e5 would be ideally posted. The kingside is White’s main battlefield, with the idea of pushing f4-f5 to open lines against Black’s castled king on g8. Black typically responds with the lever c5-c4, pushing back the bishop on d3 and trying to fix White’s queenside pawns as targets for counterplay. The follow-up b5-b4 can reinforce this advance. The knight on c6 can be rerouted toward d4 or b4, seeking to disrupt White’s piece coordination and create active piece play.
London Structure with Advanced e5 Pawn: the Central Barrier
White’s advanced pawn on e5 creates a central barrier that severely restricts Black’s pieces, particularly the knight on f6, which has no active square in front of it. The square d6 becomes a potential weakness for Black if the e5 pawn is well supported and the d5 pawn disappears. Black’s advanced pawns on b4 and c4 show that Black has expanded on the queenside, creating tension on both flanks. White’s plan is to reinforce the space advantage created by the e5 pawn and direct as many pieces as possible toward the kingside. The lever f4-f5 is especially threatening, as it opens lines directly against Black’s king on g8. The bishops on e3 and e2 support the attack, while the queen on c2 can shift to h5 or d2 to prepare a decisive kingside combination. Black seeks counterplay through the advanced queenside pawns, for example by pushing b4-b3 to undermine White’s pawn structure. The knight on c6 can try to reroute to d4 via b4, a square made accessible by the b4 advance. Challenging the e5 pawn with f7-f6 is also a key resource, allowing Black to question White’s central domination and free the pieces that are currently cramped behind the barrier.
Common mistakes
Ignoring …Qb6 and losing b2 for nothing. As soon as the bishop leaves c1 for f4, the b2-pawn has no natural defender left: the …Qb6 sortie (after …c5) is THE critical reaction against the London. Carrying on with development as if nothing happened costs a clean pawn. Correct answers exist — defend b2, or better, know the 4.Nc3! gambit from this guide’s trap, which converts the opponent’s greed into a crushing development lead.
Grabbing the a8-rook without checking the knight’s way out. The "poisoned rook" trap in this guide shows it: after the Nc7+ fork and the Nxa8 capture, the corner knight never comes back out if …b6 and …Bb7 collect it. A corner rook is only worth the trip if the knight has a road home — otherwise you are really trading an active knight for a rook that had not yet moved, while gifting several attacking tempi to your opponent.
Playing the London on autopilot. The system’s charm — always the same moves — is also its poison: lining up Bf4, e3, c3, Bd3 without ever launching an active plan (Ne5, f4, Qf3, the e4 push) leads to a drab symmetrical position where Black, having spent every tempo usefully on the queenside, is simply better. The setup is not the plan: it is the launch pad for the plan.
Exchanging …Bxg3 at the wrong moment. On the black side, trading the d6-bishop for the g3-bishop looks harmless, but the hxg3 recapture opens the h-file — aimed straight at Black’s castled king. Exchanging and THEN castling short amounts to castling into an already activated rook. The right reflex: either delay the exchange, plan a different shelter for the king, or make sure the kingside stays well defended (…Ne7-g6, a timely …h6).
Forgetting the …f6 lever against the e5-knight. Letting the white knight camp on e5, supported by d4 and f4, means accepting that the attack will grow: sacrifices on f7, the Qf3-h5 swing, the f5 push. The …f6 lever, played before the machine is assembled, forces the knight to declare itself and defuses most of the attacking motifs. Too many players discover it one move too late — after the sacrifice on f7, nothing can be repaired.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the London System so popular?
Because it offers the best ratio of study time to reliability. A single setup — Bf4, e3, c3, Bd3 — works against almost every Black defence: no dozens of variations to memorise, no deadly theoretical trap to fear on move ten. The typical plans (knight on e5, kingside attack, the h-file) are reused from game to game, which speeds up improvement enormously. Its rehabilitation by elite players completed its respectability: it is no longer a "club trick", but a complete system played at every level.
Is the London System boring?
That is its reputation, but it is misleading. The London is only boring when played without a plan — the setup assembled, then nothing. Played well, it aims an attacking machine at the enemy king: a knight anchored on e5, f4 support, the queen on f3, the h-file opened after hxg3, and thematic sacrifices like the blow on f7 from this guide’s trap. The Jobava variant (with Nc3) even makes it outright aggressive from the opening. The real question is not "is the London boring?" but "do I have an active plan once development is complete?".
How do you counter the London System as Black?
Attack its only structural weak point: b2. The most incisive plan is a quick …c5 then …Qb6, putting d4 and b2 under simultaneous pressure — while knowing the gambit answer (White may offer b2 for the initiative, see this guide’s traps) so as not to fall into it. Then: neutralise the f4-bishop with …Bd6, plant a knight on e4, and roll out the …c4, …b5-b4 queenside expansion while White prepares play on the other side. The key is tempo: the London is slow, and every active black move in the first eight moves counts double.
What is the "Jobava London"?
It is the aggressive variant of the London, popularised by Georgian grandmaster Baadur Jobava: White plays Nc3 (instead of the classical c3), combined with Bf4. The knight on c3 gives up the pawn pyramid but speeds up development and creates direct threats — the Nb5 jump towards c7, a quick e4 push, attacks on the king before Black has finished developing. The f7 sacrifice trap presented in this guide comes from this family. It is an excellent choice for players who like the London’s "system" spirit but want sharper positions.
Results by rating level
Most-played lines (1600–1799 level)
- Solid setup …e6e630%51% wins (White)
- Bishop development …Bf5Bf521%50% wins (White)
- Knight development …Nc6Nc616%53% wins (White)
- Central thrust …c5c510%47% wins (White)
- Kingside fianchettog66%49% wins (White)
- Bg44%49% wins (White)
The percentage shows the move’s popularity (share of games that play it). White’s score stays near 50% because all of these lines are sound — popularity is what sets them apart.
Reference games
Step through each game at your own pace with the arrows — it opens at the end of the opening.
Carlsen, M. (2853) — Vachier Lagrave, M. (2742)Insufficient material — draw · 2023
Magnus Carlsen, even after relinquishing his world title in 2023, remains the world’s top-ranked player and a fearsome competitor. Across the board sits Maxime Vachier-Lagrave — 'MVL' — the best French player of his generation, known for his razor-sharp tactical play and deep love of highly theoretical openings. Carlsen opts for the London System here, a weapon he helped bring back into fashion precisely to sidestep the heavy preparation of opponents like MVL.
Analyse this game →Aronian, L. (2765) — Caruana, F. (2832)White wins (resignation, time or agreement) · 2018
Levon Aronian, the flamboyant Armenian-born grandmaster celebrated for his creative flair and daring sacrifices, faces Fabiano Caruana — the Italian-American prodigy who, that very same year, would challenge Carlsen for the world title in a historic match that ended 12 draws before Carlsen won on rapid tiebreaks. The London System provides the opening framework for what promises to be a battle between two of the planet’s elite players.
Analyse this game →