London System - Slav & French setups 2...c6 / 2...e6

Main line

The chapter's main line, with the comments from the course.

1. 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3

   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.

2. 2... c6

   Black builds the Slav setup, supporting d5 with the c-pawn while keeping the light-squared bishop free. We'll develop normally since Black usually slides into familiar London structures anyway.

3. 3. Bf4 Nf6

   The standard Slav move. The Slav has this solid reputation, but against the London it doesn't deliver, Black's structure gets rigid and cuts down the counterplay.

4. 4. e3

   Now we're set to handle all the main Slav tries: ...Bf5, ...Bg4, ...Nh5, and those quick ...Qb6 shots.

5. 4... Bg4

   The classic pin that shows up everywhere. The bishop sits pretty exposed here compared to other London lines, and we'll make Black pay for it.

6. 5. h3

   We force the bishop to decide where it's going.

7. 5... Bh5 6. Nbd2

   The only move that works here, preparing c4. The normal Nc3 setup fails because of the pin, after c4 and Qb3, Black takes on f3 and doubles our pawns. We'll use c4, Qb3, c5 against Qb6 instead, keeping g4 and Ne5 ready.

8. 6... e6 7. g4

   Tempo gain, kicking the bishop around.

9. 7... Bg6 8. Ne5

   Black's in serious trouble now. We have two crushing ideas: trade on g6 for the bishop pair, or push h4-h5 and watch the kingside fall apart.

10. 8... Nbd7

    Natural development that walks right into our trap.

11. 9. h4

    The bishop has nowhere to run and Black can't save it in time.

Other chapters

• London System: Mainline 2...Nf6
• Chigorin Variation 2...Nc6
• Anti-London 2...Bf5 / 2...Bg4