The London System

The London System is a complex of related chess openings 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:

    "Basically the London is a set of solid lines where after 1.d4 White quickly develops his dark-squared bishop to f4 and normally bolsters his center 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.

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.

I have been playing thiss system for some time now with no real theory; other then what is in the above video.   I find that this openning gets you to middlegame with no real weaknesses.  I like the fact that my booked up friends have no clever traps and if and when I lose it is because they played better.  Not because I did study a particular openning line.

I also like the amazing Kingside attacks that can be generated when black plays too quietly.  If the system was good enough for someone like Bronstein it has to be playable at my level too. 

My plan is to stick with this openning for the entire year.