- The moves1. d4 d5 2. Bf4
- Chosen byWhite
- ECOA46, A48, D02
The London System is more a system than an opening. White plays 1.d4 and an early Bf4, and then builds the same setup almost whatever Black does: pawns on d4, e3 and c3, knights on f3 and d2, bishops on f4 and d3. That is why White needs to learn much less theory than in most other openings.
The first master to play the system regularly was James Mason, for example in Vienna in 1882. The name comes from the strong London tournament of 1922, where the setup appeared seven times, in games by José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine and Akiba Rubinstein, among others. In the 2000s the London System has become very popular among club players. Magnus Carlsen plays it too, and Ding Liren won the sixth game of the 2023 world championship match with it.
The main line, move by move
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3
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- 8.…
The ideas
White wants to
- Build the same solid position every time: d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, Bd3, Nbd2, c3.
- Put a knight on e5 and attack on the kingside, often with the bishop on d3 aiming at h7.
- Keep the bishop on the h2–b8 diagonal with h3 and Bh2 if it is chased.
Black wants to
- Attack d4 early with …c5, and put the queen on b6 against b2, which the bishop on c1 no longer protects.
- Trade off White's strong bishop with …Bd6.
- Develop freely. White's setup puts little pressure on Black's position, so Black can choose the setup they like.
Important variations
Black's most critical reply: …c5 and …Qb6
The most popular way to disturb the system at a high level is to strike at d4 with …c5 and then put the queen on b6. The queen attacks b2, which the bishop on c1 no longer protects, and d4 at the same time. Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević, who wrote the influential book Win with the London System in 2005, considered 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Qb6 the most critical line against the system.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Qb6
Against a King's Indian setup
If Black fianchettoes with …g6 and …Bg7, White changes the setup a little: the bishop often goes to e2 instead of d3, because on d3 it would only run into Black's pawn on g6. Black aims to prepare …e5 or …c5.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. h3
5. Be2
Against this setup the bishop does more good on e2 than on d3.
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- 6.…
Jobava London: Nc3 instead of c3
A more modern and more aggressive version, named after the grandmasters Richárd Rapport and Baadur Jobava. The knight goes to c3 instead of d2 and can jump to b5 to threaten the c7 square.
1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. Nb5 Na6 5. e3
How it goes in real games
How the games ended once the position had come up on the board, in blitz, rapid and classical games. White wins, draws and Black wins, as a percentage of the games.
| Position | Level | Games | White wins | Draw | Black wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London System 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 | Club players | 46,449,355 | 51% | 5% | 44% |
| Beginners | 54,220,927 | 52% | 4% | 44% | |
| London System, main line 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3 | Club players | 572,721 | 51% | 6% | 43% |
| Beginners | 44,617 | 53% | 3% | 44% | |
| Black's most critical reply: …c5 and …Qb6 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Qb6 | Club players | 426,147 | 42% | 7% | 51% |
| Beginners | 51,874 | 43% | 3% | 54% | |
| Against a King's Indian setup 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. h3 | Club players | 858,835 | 51% | 7% | 42% |
| Beginners | 68,569 | 51% | 4% | 44% |
The most common continuations after 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4
Club players, share of the games in the position.
- 2…Nf6 30% (13,969,547 games)
- 2…e6 19% (8,968,550 games)
- 2…Nc6 16% (7,499,754 games)
- 2…Bf5 14% (6,569,908 games)
- 2…c6 8% (3,514,420 games)
Source: games on Lichess, fetched October 28, 2026. Club players means games where the players average 1600 or more, beginners games where they average 1000–1599.
Is this opening for you?
The London System suits players who want a safe, easy-to-learn opening with White and would rather spend their time on the middlegame and endgame than on theory. The setup is the same game after game, and the plans are quick to learn.
The criticism of the system is that it can get monotonous and that White rarely gets a big advantage out of the opening. If you want sharper play, you can move on to the Jobava London or to the Queen's Gambit.
Practice the main line
Choose a color and one of the house players. Your opponent follows the main line, and you try to find your moves. If you play something else, you'll see the main line's move, but the game goes on. When the main line ends, you play freely.
Rather play freely? Choose an opponent · Play right away
The main line with all the comments as text
1. d4 White takes space in the center with the queen's pawn. 1… d5 2. Bf4 The bishop comes out early, before e3 shuts it in. Many players now play 2.Bf4 at once instead of 2.Nf3 first. 2… Nf6 3. e3 The pawn supports d4 and opens the way for the king's bishop. 3… e6 4. Nf3 c5 Black attacks d4, the most common way to challenge the system. 5. c3 White supports d4 with another pawn. The pawn chain c3, d4, e3 is the backbone of the system. 5… Nc6 6. Nbd2 The knight goes to d2, not c3, because the c-pawn is on c3. Later it can support e4 or hop to f3 if the other knight moves. 6… Bd6 Black offers to trade off the bishop on f4, one of White's most important pieces in the system. 7. Bg3 The bishop retreats but stays on the diagonal. If Black takes on g3, White takes back with the h-pawn and gets a half-open h-file. White often plays h3 early so the bishop can go to h2 instead. 7… O-O 8. Bd3 The setup is complete. White's typical plan is Ne5, supported by the pawn on d4 and the bishop, followed by a kingside attack with the queen.
More openings
Queen's Gambit
2.c4 challenges d5. The classical d4 opening, with a Swedish variation among its lines.
King's Indian Defense
Let White take the center, strike back with e5 and storm the kingside.
Dutch Defense
1…f5: a fight for e4 and an attack on the kingside, at the price of a slightly airy king.
Slav Defense
2…c6: solid as a wall, and the bishop on c8 is free.
Every move on this page has been checked against the rules of chess.
Updated November 6, 2026
2. Bf4
The bishop comes out early, before e3 shuts it in. Many players now play 2.Bf4 at once instead of 2.Nf3 first.