Openings 1.d4 d5: closed games

London System: Setup, Plans and Stats by Rating

The London is a system, not a line: d4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, c3, Bd3 and Nbd2 against almost anything. It is the most popular way to avoid theory as White, and it is solid enough for world champions.

For White1.d4 d5 2.Bf4Seen in 2.5% of rated games

Lichess rating

D00Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System

Games from this position (1600–1999): 138k

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
30%	42k	50%45%
19%	26k	50%44%
16%	23k	52%43%
15%	21k	50%45%
7%	9,677	50%44%
7%	9,494	48%48%
1%	1,653	51%44%
1%	1,407	47%48%
0.7%	906	51%45%
0.5%	704	51%45%
0.5%	632	56%40%
0.4%	558	54%40%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

Play Bf4 early, before e3 shuts the bishop in.
The usual setup: e3, Nf3, c3, Bd3, Nbd2, O-O, then Ne5 or e4.
Against ...c5 and ...Qb6, defend b2 with Qb3 or Qc1.

Black

Hit d4 with ...c5 and the b2 pawn with ...Qb6; this is the most annoying plan for White.
Trade the f4 bishop with ...Bd6 or ...Nh5.
A King’s Indian setup (...g6, ...d6, ...e5) avoids the London’s comfort zone.

London System at each rating

How often the position after 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	89k3.0%	53%43%	2...Nc637%
1200–1599	176k3.0%	51%45%	2...Nc628%
1600–1999	138k2.2%	50%45%	2...Nf630%
2000+	24k1.2%	49%43%	2...Nf638%
All	427k2.5%	51%44%	2...Nf626%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

Both sides develop; Black’s ...Bd6 challenges the f4 bishop.
118 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 53%, 5% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 e6 6.Ngf3 Bd6
Black attacks b2; White offers a queen trade on b3.
348 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 43%, 5% were drawn, Black won 52%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3 Qb6 5.Qb3
White plays h3, Be2 and O-O; Black aims for ...d6 and ...e5.
11k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 5% were drawn, Black won 48%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O
The older London move order: knight first, then Bf4.
72k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 5% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4
A sharper London: the knight goes to c3 to prepare e4 or Nb5. At 2000+ seven in ten answer 4.Nb5 with 4...Na6.
2,571 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nb5 Na6

At club level

The London is everywhere below 2000. As White, the setup is easy, but know the ...c5–...Qb6 plan. As Black, that same plan is the best way to make a London player think.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as White Practice as Black

Related openings

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