London System
The same solid setup nearly every game: Bf4, e3, c3, Bd3, Ne5. Learn the plans once, reuse them everywhere.
Train this repertoire freeChapters
Each chapter shows its main line move by move, with the coach's comments.
- 116 lines
London System: Mainline 2...Nf6
Let's learn the London System! Same solid setup almost every game while Black scrambles to find the right response. We begin with pawn to d4.
Read the chapter - 29 lines
Chigorin Variation 2...Nc6
Our bishop lands on the perfect square, keeping all our options open. Black's knight jump to c6 shows up all the time in online games.
Read the chapter - 38 lines
Slav & French setups 2...c6 / 2...e6
We drop the knight onto its best square, keeping our options wide open. No rushing the bishop to f4 yet, that sidesteps the nasty traps that punish move-two Bf4.
Read the chapter - 49 lines
Anti-London 2...Bf5 / 2...Bg4
Natural development that keeps all our options wide open. We can still transpose to the Queen's Gambit while dodging the early Bf4 tactics that give London players headaches.
Read the chapter
About this repertoire
A complete White repertoire after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3.
Forget memorizing variations. The London System gives you the same solid setup almost every game: knight to f3, bishop to f4, e3, c3, Bd3, Nbd2, and a knight on e5 that nobody can dislodge. Learn the plans once, apply them everywhere.
We start with 2.Nf3 instead of the immediate 2.Bf4, which sidesteps the sharp anti-London traps that punish hasty Bf4 players. From there, every Black response steers into one of four typical structures, all covered in detail.
What you'll learn
Main line: 2...Nf6
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 Bxf4 6.exf4
The most popular setup at every level. Black plays Bd6 to challenge our bishop, and we welcome the trade because the doubled f-pawn structure is a strategic asset, not a weakness. We get a stranglehold on e5, an open e-file for our rook, and f4-f5 stays as a weapon. Then we roll out Bd3, c3, Ne5, Qf3 and the kingside attack plays itself.
2...Nc6 Chigorin Setup
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bf4
Super common in club games. Most players develop knights first without realizing they're playing theory. We meet it with the same Bf4 plan, then pin the c6 knight with Bb5 if the bishop comes out to f5. The h3 prophylactic move handles the Bg4 pin cleanly, and Ne5 is always the strategic goal.
2...c6 / 2...e6 Solid Setups
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c6 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nbd2
Black plays the Slav structure or the e6 closed setup. Once the light-squared bishop comes out to f5, we switch gears: c4 and Qb3 hits b7, and the Slav endgame after Qb6 c5 Qxb3 axb3 gives us a clear edge with the open a-file and the b4-b5 plan. If the bishop stays home, we revert to the standard c3 plan.
Early Bishop Moves & Anti-London
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bg4 / Bf5 / dodging tries
The chapter that handles everything tricky. Against 2...Bg4 we play Ne5 and grab the bishop pair after exchange or push g4-h4 to trap a misplaced bishop. Against 2...Bf5 (the most theoretical anti-London) we have concrete refutations including the punishing 5.exd5 cxd5 6.Bb5+ trap. Plus we cover the move-order trick of skipping 2.Bf4 to dodge the dangerous 2.Bf4 c5 anti-London.
Why this repertoire?
- One system, every response. The Bf4 + e3 + c3 + Bd3 + Nbd2 + Ne5 setup works against virtually anything Black plays.
- Plans, not memorization. You learn the structures and themes once, then apply them naturally.
- Solid but combative. The e5 outpost and kingside attack with Qf3-h3 give you real winning chances against any opponent.
- Move-order safe. Starting with 2.Nf3 dodges the sharp 2.Bf4 c5 anti-London traps that catch hasty players.
- Time-tested. The London is the weapon of Carlsen, Kamsky, and countless club champions because it just works.
Train the London System repertoire
Play every line on the board and let spaced repetition bring back the moves you forget. Free to start.
Train this repertoire free