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Journalism of Courage
The London System is a relatively new and solid opening where White opens with d4 and then moves the dark-squared bishop to f4 (Bf4). White plays d4, Nf3, Bf4 – though the order may change – followed by e3 and c3, building a balanced pawn structure. It takes its name from a tournament played in London in 1922.
The London System enables White to develop its pieces smoothly and castle early, though it is not an aggressive move for control of the centre at the early stage of the game. It can be deployed against a variety of Black defences. Black’s response determines how the game develops then on.
Those following the 2024 World Chess Championship would spot that this was the opening used in Game 6 and then Game 10 by China’s Ding Liren, playing White, against India’s D Gukesh. Here are the first few moves of that game.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3) e3 e6 4) Nf3 c5
In Game 10, Ding Liren opted for: 1) d4 Nf6 2) Nf3 d5 3) Bf4 e6 4) e3 c5.
Ding Liren had also deployed the London System in one of the games of his 2023 World Chess Championship clash against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi. Ding went on to win that one
The deployment of the London System is often agnostic of Black’s defence, and so how the board looks after the initial few moves would depend on how Black deployed its pieces. Here are the board positions after some of the common defences
Queen’s Gambit Setup (d5, c5): Where Black plays d5 and c5 in the first few moves to counter White’s d4, Black looks to control the centre and go for a offensive on the queen-side
King’s Indian Defence Setup (g6, Bg7): When Black plays g6 and Bg7, fianchettoing its king-side bishop. Blacks then goes on to launch an attack for control of the centre
Grunfeld Defence setup (g6,d5): Black plays g6, and instead of fianchettoing the bishop goes early for the centre with d5.
