TacticForge

Chapter 3 of 7

Against the London

Against an early Bf4, don't play the Leningrad. Play …e6, …b6 and …Bb7, and put a knight on e4.

The bishop on f4 controls e5, so the Leningrad's …e5 is hard to achieve, and White's quiet setup leaves Black without a plan. Club players see this a lot: 2.Bf4 is White's third most common reply to the Dutch.

With …e6 and …b6 the bishop on f4 has nothing to hit, and e4 becomes your square. The knight goes there, the bishop on b7 supports it, and if White takes it the f-file opens toward White's king.

At a glance

e3, Bd3 or Be2

…e6, …b6, …Bb7, …Be7, …O-O, then …Ne4.

c4 early

…Bb4+. White's development gets awkward.

Nc3 early

…e6 and …Bb4: pin the knight, then …Ne4.

Key ideas

Why not the Leningrad here

Against the London, the Leningrad's main break …e5 runs into the bishop on f4, which already controls e5. Black ends up with a solid but planless position, and White can add h4–h5 against the pawn on g6.

The setup instead

With …e6, …b6, …Bb7 and …Be7 the bishop on f4 has nothing to bite on, and e4 becomes Black's square. The bishop on b7 supports a knight there, and …c5 or …Ne4 follow depending on White's setup.

Mind c7

The bishop on f4 looks down the diagonal at c7. Before …Qe8 or any move that takes a defender away from c7, check whether Nb5 or Bxc7 is possible.

The lines

Click a move or use the arrows. Highlighted moves carry a note, and under each note you'll find the other moves played from that position, including the tempting mistakes. The number under the board is Stockfish's evaluation from your side: minus means your opponent is better.

White plays 2.Bf4

The main line: Nf3, Bd3 and Nbd2

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

White plays 4.h3

4.h3: a retreat for the bishop

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

White plays 5.Be2

5.Be2 and c4

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

White plays 5.c4

5.c4: …Bb4 again

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

White plays 5.h3

5.h3

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

A model game

Master games from the Lichess database, with the engine's evaluation under the board.

Mikhail Ulibin sets up exactly as this chapter recommends against the London: …e6, …b6, …Bb7, …Be7. Then he takes over e4, recaptures with the f-pawn, and holds the pawn with …d5, the same idea as in the book's main lines.

Russian Club Cup · 0-1

Dyachkov, Sergej – Ulibin, Mikhail, 1998

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

Take these into your games

Leave the queen on d8

The bishop on f4 looks at c7. Play …Qe8 only once c7 is safe.

Recapture with the f-pawn

If White takes a knight on e4, take back with …fxe4. The open f-file is your attack.

Check on b4

If White plays c4 or Nc3 early, …Bb4 comes with tempo.