The London setup

The London System is a set of moves more than a set of lines: pawn to d4, bishop to f4, pawn to e3, knight to f3, pawn to c3, bishop to d3 and the other knight to d2. You can play it against almost any Black reply. It is usually said to take its name from the London tournament of 1922, after which strong players began to use it. Step through a typical game start.

The pawns on c3, d4 and e3 form a pyramid. The d4 pawn sits on top, protected twice, so Black's pawn breaks bounce off it. Behind the pyramid the pieces have easy jobs: the knight on f3 and the bishop on g3 both watch e5, the bishop on d3 aims at h7. Many London players also add h3 at some point, so the bishop always has h2 to retreat to and Black's pieces cannot use g4.

Here White played e3 too early. The bishop on c1 is now shut in: its road to f4 runs through e3, and the only square left is d2, behind its own pawns. In the London the order is the point: bishop to f4 first, while the road is open, and only then pawn to e3 to support d4.

Your turn

Black's bishop gives check. Block it with a move that fits your setup.

Your turn

Black has pushed a pawn to e5, a square your pieces watch. Make Black pay for it.

Question

Why does a London player put the bishop on f4 before playing e3?

• After e3 the bishop on c1 would be shut in behind its own pawns
• The bishop on f4 attacks Black's king
• e3 is a bad move in the London