Chessy
Indian Defense: Accelerated London System as White
You start with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4, and the position is already a very practical one. Stockfish rates it +0.15, a slight edge for White. That is small enough to call the opening balanced, so your main job is to stay sensible and understand Black’s most natural replies. The drill below lets you practise the exact position where Black is to move, so you can learn what to expect and how to keep control.
Play the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System against the engine
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Play the drill below and test your choices against the engine. Create a free account to keep practising and build a reliable opening repertoire.
Create a free account →What this opening is really about
This opening asks a simple question: can you get a comfortable London-style setup without letting Black take over the centre too easily? The position is not sharp by force, but it does not give White anything for free either. The engine’s best move is c5, which shows that Black can challenge you immediately instead of waiting passively. For White, the key idea is to stay flexible, develop smoothly, and be ready for Black’s central pressure. If you like quiet development with a clear structure, this is a useful opening to know.
What the database says about the position
The statistics back up the engine’s sense of balance. Across 17,909,140 games at this exact position, White wins 49.0%, draws 4.0%, and Black wins 47.0%. That is a close split, so you should not expect the opening alone to win the game for you. The most common replies also show that Black has several playable ways to continue, with g6 the most played, followed by d5, e6, d6, c5, and Nc6. In short: this is a position where understanding matters more than memorising a single trick.
How Black usually answers
Black’s most played continuation is g6 with 4,829,072 games, and White scores 47.3% there. That means you should be ready for a setup where Black aims to finish development calmly and challenge the centre later. The other major replies are also close: d5 with 4,115,982 games gives White 50.3%, e6 with 3,935,657 games gives White 50.3%, and d6 with 2,605,569 games gives White 48.2%. Even c5 and Nc6 are part of the picture, so the lesson is not to hunt for one forced line but to learn the plans behind the moves.
What to take into the drill
Because the position is described as dead level, your goal is not to force an advantage from move two. Instead, focus on simple opening habits: develop your pieces, keep your king safe, and respond to Black’s central challenge in a controlled way. The engine prefers c5, which is a good reminder that Black can strike in the centre rather than play slowly. Use the drill to get comfortable against the most common replies and to see how quickly the game can branch into different middlegames.
Results across 17,909,140 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| g6 | 4,829,072 | 47.3% |
| d5 | 4,115,982 | 50.3% |
| e6 | 3,935,657 | 50.3% |
| d6 | 2,605,569 | 48.2% |
| c5 | 984,857 | 45.1% |
| Nc6 | 542,496 | 54.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System good for White?
It is a playable opening for White, but the position is not an automatic edge. Stockfish gives **+0.15**, which is only a slight edge for White, and the page truthfully describes it as dead level. That means you should treat it as a solid system, not a guaranteed advantage.
What is Black’s best move here?
The engine’s best move is **c5**. That tells you Black can challenge the position immediately instead of waiting. In the drill, you should be ready for active central play from Black.
Which replies are most common after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4?
The most-played continuations are **g6**, **d5**, **e6**, **d6**, **c5**, and **Nc6**. The database shows that Black has several practical choices, so it helps to learn the ideas behind the position rather than one narrow line.
Does White score well from this position?
The database is very close: White wins **49.0%**, draws **4.0%**, and Black wins **47.0%** across **17,909,140 games**. That suggests a balanced position where both sides can play. You should expect a real game, not a forced result.
How many games feature the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System?
Over 18 million Lichess games have reached the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System position. White wins 49.0%, Black wins 47.0%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.