The London System is a set-up rather than a memorised line: d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, c3, Bd3 and Nbd2 against almost anything. It is solid, easy to learn and gives White a clear plan of piling up on the king side with the pieces pointing at h7.
Key ideas
1Develop the dark-squared bishop to f4 before playing e3, so it is not locked in.
2Build the pawn pyramid c3–d4–e3; it protects the centre and the bishop on f4.
3The bishop on d3 and knight on e5 aim at h7: the typical London attack.
4Meet ...c5 with c3 and answer ...Qb6 with Qb3 or Qc1, never leave b2 hanging.
5Give the f4 bishop a retreat square on g3 (play h3 first) so it cannot be traded easily.
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About this opening
You can play the London for years without learning a second move order. The bishop goes to f4, the pawns to e3 and c3, the knights to f3 and d2, whatever Black does. That is the appeal and also the trap: a set-up still has to be played with care against the replies that test it.
What you will learn
01Place the London pieces in an order that never locks the f4 bishop in.
02Handle the early ...Qb6 hit on b2 with Qb3 and the Qc2 to Qc1 retreat.
03Keep the bishop when Black offers a trade with ...Bd6, and use h3 and Be2 against a fianchetto.
The main line
The line runs 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.Bg3 O-O. White occupies d4, gets the bishop out before e3 can block it, then supports d4 with pawns on e3 and c3. Black's ...c5 and ...Nc6 pile on d4, and ...Bd6 asks the London bishop whether it wants to be traded.
The answer is no. 7.Bg3 keeps it, and if Black ever takes on g3 the h-pawn recaptures and the h-file opens towards Black's king. White follows with Bd3, O-O and Ne5, the knight that makes the bishop on d3 bite on h7.
Beginners go wrong in two places. They play e3 before Bf4 and spend the game with a bishop stuck on c1. And they forget that once the bishop has left c1 the b2 pawn has no defender, so ...Qb6 wins it unless the queen answers.
How to practise it
Learn the main line first and say why each White move comes when it does; the order is the whole lesson. In Drill, play the seven White moves until they are automatic, then take the ...Qb6 line, the one most likely to cost you a pawn in a real game. The other two can wait for their review dates.
Yes, and it is the usual recommendation for a player who wants one reliable set-up with White against everything. The pieces go to the same squares in most games.
What is the main line of the London System?
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.Bg3, with Bd3 and O-O to follow. The pawns on c3, d4 and e3 with the bishop on f4 or g3 are the constant.