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London System report from your own games

London System report from your own games

Don't just play on autopilot. Discover the specific tactical mistakes you make in your London System games.

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Sample Report

London System Report

52 GAMESSample Data
Win Rate
58%

Performance vs Other Openings

London System58% Win
Other Openings47% Win

Key Insights

Tactical Patterns
white

You Rarely Miss the Greek Gift Sacrifice on h7

What this means
In 52 London System games, the Bxh7+ sacrifice was available 8 times and you found it in 7. Your tactical awareness in this pattern is well above average. When you execute the sacrifice, you win 86% of the time.
How to improve
Keep looking for Bxh7+ when Black has castled kingside and the knight is on f3 with the queen ready to swing to h5. The classic prerequisites are: bishop on d3, knight on f3, queen accessible to h5, and no Black knight on f6 defending h7. Your recognition of this pattern is a genuine strength — trust your instincts when the position aligns.
#greek-gift#sacrifice#tactics
Strategic Planning
white
High Impact

Middlegame Plans Stall After Move 15 in 40% of Games

What this means
Your London setup is efficient — you reach a comfortable position by move 12 in 85% of games. However, in 21 of 52 games, your play becomes aimless between moves 15-25. You shuffle pieces without a clear plan, allowing Black to equalize. Your win rate in games where you have a clear plan past move 15 is 71% vs 42% when you drift.
How to improve
After completing development, choose one of three plans: (1) Kingside attack with e4-e5 and Qe2-Ne5, (2) Queenside expansion with c4 and b4, (3) Central break with e4 after proper preparation. Decide by move 14 which plan suits the position and commit to it. The London's weakness is that it can become passive — you need a concrete middlegame target.
#middlegame-plans#strategic-play#initiative
Variation Weakness
white
High Impact

Win Rate Drops to 43% Against King's Indian Setups

What this means
When Black plays ...g6 and ...Bg7 against your London, your win rate drops from 58% overall to 43%. The fianchetto bishop neutralizes your dark-squared bishop and Black's counterplay on the long diagonal creates problems. You've lost 8 of 14 games against this setup.
How to improve
Against ...g6 setups, avoid placing your bishop on f4 where it gets challenged by ...Nh5. Instead, consider Bg5 or even a quick e4 to transpose into a more aggressive system. If you stick with Bf4, play h3 early to prevent ...Nh5 and be ready to retreat to h2 if necessary. The key is not letting the g7 bishop dominate the long diagonal.
#kings-indian-setup#dark-bishop#adaptation

Top Variations

1
Standard Setup
28 games
2
Anti-King's Indian
14 games
3
Jobava London
10 games

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What we analyze in your London System games

Your setup of the classic 'pyramid' pawn structure

Your utilization of the e5 outpost for knights

Your execution of the Greek Gift sacrifice on h7

Your response when Black challenges the center early with c5

Learn This Opening

Play through the main line move by move

1.pawn to d4 (d4)

Les Blancs ouvrent par le pion dame classique, pour contrôler le centre.

Play pawn to d4 (d4)
Drag a piece or tap to move
1.d4d52.Bf4Nf63.e3e64.Nd2Bd65.Bg3O-O6.Bd3

Key Positions to Know

Critical concepts every London System player should understand

Early Bf4 Development

The London's trademark: developing the dark-squared bishop to f4 before playing e3. This prevents the bishop from being locked inside the pawn chain and gives White a solid, flexible position with clear plans.

The Pyramid Structure

White builds the classic d4-e3-c3 pawn formation, creating an unbreakable central structure. Combined with Nf3, Bd3, and O-O, this setup is easy to achieve and hard to attack. The structure supports a kingside initiative.

The e5 Outpost

White's primary attacking plan: maneuver a knight to e5, supported by the f4 bishop and the pawn on d4. From e5, the knight controls critical squares and often leads to a kingside attack or favorable endgame.

Strategic Plans

♔
White's Plans

  • •S'en tenir à l'architecture sacrée : Ff4, e3, Cf3, Fd3, Cbd2 et roque précoce.
  • •Ancrer sa position avec la pyramide c3-d4-e3.
  • •Viser la case e5 comme bastion stratégique majestueux pour asseoir le Cavalier.
  • •Manœuvrer la Dame sur la diagonale b1-h7 (Dc2) conjuguée au Fou pour mater côté Roi.
  • •In closed positions, prepare the attaque de minorité with b4-b5 on the aile dame
  • •Échange on d6 only when it improves your position or simplifies advantageously
  • •Use the e5-square for your cavalier as an avant-poste to cramp Black's position

♚
Black's Plans

  • •Échanger le Fou adverse avec Fd6 dès que l'avantage n’y est pas.
  • •Saper la pyramide d4 par un coup saignant c5.
  • •Équilibrer l'avantage d'espace via des manœuvres de Cavalier ...Ce4.
  • •Use the semi-open c-colonne after cxd4 for tour activité and aile dame pression
  • •Consider Ne4 jumps to trade knights and ease any cramping
  • •Play for breaks like e5 or c5 to open lines and activate your pièces

Key Variations

Explore the most important branches and transpositions in the London System.

Londres contre Défense Est-Indienne

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.h3

Variante où les Blancs répondent au Fianchetto noir par une protection accrue du fou f4 avec h3 pour garantir sa retraite contre ...Ch5 ou ...Fg4.

Londres contre Gambit Dame Refusé

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nd2 Bd6 5.Bg3 O-O 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3

Le plan classique de forteresse. Les Blancs répondent à ...c5 par la solidité de c3. Les batailles sont extrêmement positionnelles.

Londres selon Jobava (Ff4 + Cc3)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 a6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Ne5

Révolutionné par Baadur Jobava. Le cavalier développé en c3 offre des menaces de Cb5 brutales et un potentiel asymétrique plus violent que le Londres habituel.

Londres Accéléré

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Qb3

Face à ...c5 hâtif, les Blancs ripostent par Db3 générant coup double sur d5 et b7.

Londres contre Benoni

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.d5 d6 4.Nc3 g6 5.e4

Quand les Noirs versent dans la famille Benoni, les Blancs écrasent potentiellement le centre avec le couple e4-d5 pour une prise d'espace radicale.

Opening Statistics

Original research from 337 real amateur games — data you won't find anywhere else.

Avg. Game Length
—awaiting data
Underdog Wins
—awaiting data
Quick Finishes
—awaiting data
Endgame Reach
—awaiting data
White's Edge
+10.0%
Favors BlackEqualFavors White

At 1200-1400

📊White's edge is +10.0% — White has a clear advantage at this level.

How This Opening Changes as You Improve

RatingGamesWhite's Edge
800-100030
-20.0%40 /0 /60
1000-120057
-7.0%46 /0 /53
1200-140070
+10.0%53 /0 /43
1400-160066
+1.5%50 /0 /49
1600-1800114
-1.7%47 /0 /49

Based on 337 games · Updated March 2026

Why Play the London System?

Facile à Assimiler

Nul besoin de digérer des tonnes de théorie d'ouvertures. Un plan unique de développement systématique fait pratiquement tout l'office.

Structure Inébranlable

La pyramide d4-e3-c3 offre une immense sécurité, minimisant tout risque d'être écrasé par surprises avant de parvenir au jeu intermédiaire.

Court-circuite la Théorie Magistrale

Au lieu de vous empêtrer dans l'immensité de la défense Nimzo ou Est-Indienne, vous obligez l'adversaire à revenir sur le terrain basique des idées saines d'échecs.

Arsenal Universel

Quelle que soit la défense adverse (hollandaise, est-indienne, Grunfeld, ...) Le développement Ff4, e3, Fd3, Cf3 reste virtuellement identique.

Common Traps

Watch out for these dangerous tactical pitfalls

La Fourchette précoce de la Dame

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5? 4.Bd3 Bxd3? 5.Qxd3 e6? 6.Qb5+

L'avidité des Noirs à échanger en d3 permet 6.Db5+ punissant l'adversaire de ses lacunes de protection sur les cases b7 et b5.

L'Attrape du Fermier hâtif

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 Qb6 6.Qb3 c4?? 7.Qc2

Un coup ...c4 très naïf croyant repousser la Dame, mais qui enterre au fond toutes capacités Noires à forcer le centre Blanc.

Bévue du Fou sur c5

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 Bf5 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Bg5 Nbd7 8.Nbd2 c5? 9.dxc5 Bxc5?? 10.Nb3

Reprendre c5 naïvement du fou laisse un fou lourd en c5, vite harcelé, terminant par l'effondrement du Cavalier d7 Noir.

Dislocation du Roi Noir

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 e6 6.Ngf3 Bd6 7.Bg3 O-O 8.Bd3 Re8 9.Ne5 Nd7?? 10.Qh5

L'absence du rempart naturel Cavalier f6 condamne dramatiquement la case h7 face à la furie de la Reine d5 et Fou d3.

Beginner Tips

💡

Sortez invariablement le Fou f4 AVANT de verrouiller e3, la clé de la structure saine.

💡

Formez méthodiquement votre pyramide d4-c3-e3 : elle vous assure contre de nombreuses bourdes.

💡

Bâtissez sans frénésie, la gloire au Système de Londres vient par écrasement silencieux.

💡

Roquez court et surveillez les poussées latérales avant toute ambition offensive.

💡

Castle aile roi early to get your roi to safety, then consider advancing on the aile roi or aile dame

💡

Use your cavalier on e5 as a strong avant-poste to cramp Black's position and support attacks

💡

Be patient - the London System often leads to slight advantages that you convert in the milieu de partie or finale

💡

Study typique milieu de partie plans rather than memorizing moves - understanding the structure is more important than theory

Common London patterns we detect

We automatically check if you fall for these specific traps.

About the London System

The London System is a popular opening system for White where the dark-squared bishop is developed to f4. It is known for being easy to learn, solid, and less reliant on memorizing deep theory lines compared to main line 1. d4 openings.

We look at your "pyramid" pawn structure setup, the control of the e5 outpost, and your kingside attack patterns. We identify if you are playing too passively or missing the classic bishop sacrifice on h7.

openings.page.sections.keyThemes

Développement systématiqueFou f4 précoceOrdre de coups flexibleStructure de pions en pyramideFacile à apprendreUniversel contre la plupart des défenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about London System analysis

The London System begins with 1. d4 followed by 2. Bf4 — the defining move. White develops the light-squared bishop before playing e3, which would otherwise lock it inside the pawn chain. The standard setup continues 2...Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nd2 Bd6 5. Bg3 O-O 6. Bd3, creating a solid, systematic structure. The beauty of the London is that this setup is effective against virtually any Black response.
Move order is critical: 2. Bf4 must come before 3. e3. If White plays e3 first, the light-squared bishop is permanently trapped behind the e3-d4 pawn wall. By getting Bf4 out early, White places the bishop on its most active square, where it controls g5, e5, and the central complex. The bishop on f4 supports the Ne5 outpost, targets h7 in certain lines, and is a key piece in creating kingside pressure.
After d4-e3-c3, White builds a triangle of interlocking pawns known as the 'pyramid'. This structure is extremely solid — it supports the d4 anchor, prevents ...Nd4 jumps, and gives the queen access to b3. Combined with Bd3 pointing at h7 and a knight on e5, the pyramid provides a stable platform for either a kingside attack (Ne5, Qc2-h7) or a minority attack on the queenside (b4-b5). It rarely falls apart under pressure.
The Jobava London (2. Nc3 instead of 2. c3 or 2. Nf3) is an aggressive variant popularised by Georgian GM Baadur Jobava. By developing the knight to c3 early, White immediately threatens Nb5 ideas, applies more central pressure on d5, and avoids the passive c3 setup. Jobava's brilliant attacking game against Mamedyarov at the 2015 European Team Championship demonstrated that the opening can produce sharp, decisive positions rather than drawn-out positional squeezes.
The Bishop Blunder Trap occurs after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 Bf5 4. Bd3 Bxd3 5. Qxd3 e6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. Nbd2 c5? 9. dxc5 Bxc5??. The natural recapture with the bishop is a mistake — after 10. Nb3, the bishop on c5 must move, then White plays Nbxc5 winning the d7 knight. Black must recapture with 9...Nxc5 to keep equality.
In Game 10 of his 2016 World Championship match against Karjakin — a must-win situation — Carlsen chose the London System for a crucial strategic reason: he needed a position he could press in without risking an early draw by repetition. Carlsen ground Karjakin down over 75 moves, demonstrating that the London's gradual pressure can be devastating at the highest level when played by a sufficiently superior endgame technician.

Famous Games

CarlsenvsKarjakin
Championnat du Monde 2016 (Partie 10)1-0

Dans une mort subite stratégique, Magnus Carlsen essora son vis-à-vis dans la longue durée via cette ouverture supposée "innocente".

KamskyvsKramnik
Dortmund 19961-0

Gata Kamsky y trancha magistralement, prouvant au monde des Grands Maîtres que le Londres ne servait pas qu'à faire nul.

JobavavsMamedyarov
Championnat d'Europe par Équipe 20151-0

L'incarnation moderne de l'agressivité pure avec la variante Cc3, démontée pièce par pièce dans une fulgurante attaque.

RapportvsAnand
Grenke Chess Classic 20191-0

Défaite amère d'Anand face aux méthodes lentes et en tenaille systémiques du Système, empoisonné sur la longueur.

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