London System
Encyclopedia
The London System is a complex of related chess opening
s that begin with 1.d4 followed by an early Bf4. The London System requires very little knowledge of opening theory and normally results in a very closed game
. Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević
, in the introduction to their 2005 book Win with the London System, state:
The line came into fashion in the 1922 London tournament as a way of meeting hypermodern
setups. The line gives White a solid position, and critics of the line refer to it as the "old man’s variation" or the "boring system". Even so, the opening can lead to sharp attacks and Vlatko Kovačević
and David Bronstein
are among the sharp tactical players who have played the London System.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
s that begin with 1.d4 followed by an early Bf4. The London System requires very little knowledge of opening theory and normally results in a very closed game
Closed Game
A Closed Game, also called a Double Queen Pawn Opening, is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The move 1.d4 offers the same benefits to development and center control as does 1.e4, but unlike with the King Pawn openings where the e4 pawn is undefended after the first move, the d4 pawn is...
. Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević
Vlatko Kovacevic
Vlatko Kovačević is a Croatian and Yugoslavian grandmaster of chess.In 1970, Vlatko Kovačević tied for 9th - 11th in Rovinj–Zagreb , but beat Fischer in their individual game. In 1975, he tied for 2nd - 4th in Rovinj–Zagreb . In 1976, he won in Sombor...
, in the introduction to their 2005 book Win with the London System, state:
"Basically the London is a set of solid lines where after 1.d4 White quickly develops his dark-squared bishopBishop (chess)A bishop is a piece in the board game of chess. Each player begins the game with two bishops. One starts between the king's knight and the king, the other between the queen's knight and the queen...
to f4 and normally bolsters his centre with [pawns on] c3 and e3 rather than expanding. Although it has the potential for a quick kingside attack, the white forces are generally flexible enough to engage in a battle anywhere on the board. Historically it developed into a system mainly from three variations:
- 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4."http://www.chessville.com/reviews/WinWithLondonSystem.htm
The line came into fashion in the 1922 London tournament as a way of meeting hypermodern
Hypermodernism (chess)
Hypermodernism is a school of chess that emerged after World War I. It featured challenges on the chess ideologies presented by central European masters, such as on Wilhelm Steinitz’ approach to the centre. It also challenged in particular the dogmatic rules set down by Siegbert Tarrasch...
setups. The line gives White a solid position, and critics of the line refer to it as the "old man’s variation" or the "boring system". Even so, the opening can lead to sharp attacks and Vlatko Kovačević
Vlatko Kovacevic
Vlatko Kovačević is a Croatian and Yugoslavian grandmaster of chess.In 1970, Vlatko Kovačević tied for 9th - 11th in Rovinj–Zagreb , but beat Fischer in their individual game. In 1975, he tied for 2nd - 4th in Rovinj–Zagreb . In 1976, he won in Sombor...
and David Bronstein
David Bronstein
David Ionovich Bronstein was a Soviet chess grandmaster, who narrowly missed becoming World Chess Champion in 1951. Bronstein was described by his peers as a creative genius and master of tactics...
are among the sharp tactical players who have played the London System.