Chessy
How to Play the Indian Defense: London System d6 (White)
You've reached a comfortable crossroads in the London. After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 d6 4.c4, Black faces a solid but slightly cramped position. The engine gives +0.50 — a small but real edge in your favour. With over 14,800 games in the Lichess database, White scores 52.6% here, so the statistics back up the eval. Your job is straightforward: keep the centre under pressure, develop naturally, and watch for the moment Black tries to free their game with ...c5 or ...e5. The drill below will sharpen your instincts in this exact position.
Play the Indian Defense: London System: d6 against the engine
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Play the interactive drill now and practise converting this +0.50 edge into a full point. Create your free Chessy account to track your progress.
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
The Indian Defense: London System d6 is a hybrid — Black plays ...d6 early, keeping the centre flexible but also leaving their dark squares a little passive. Your pawn on c4 fights for space on the queenside, while Bf4 already eyes the b8-h2 diagonal. The engine's +0.50 comes from exactly this: you have more central influence and easier development. Black's main challenge is to find a good square for their dark-squared bishop, which is hemmed in by the pawns on d6 and e6. If Black does nothing aggressive, you can reinforce the centre with e3 or Nc3 and gradually build pressure.
The Engine's Preferred Reply: c5
Stockfish's top continuation is c5, and it's a very instructive line. Black immediately challenges your centre, hoping to generate counterplay. The engine gives: c5 dxc5 d5 cxd5 — a sharp exchange that opens the position. After those moves, Black's pawn on d5 is gone, and you have a clean extra central pawn. The key point: don't shy away from taking on c5. Letting Black play ...c5 unchallenged would free their bishop and reduce your edge. If you practice this response, you'll punish Black for waiting too long to break.
What the Statistics Tell You
The database of 14,828 games reveals which replies Black tries most often — and how you score against each. Be7 is by far the most common (6,373 games), a solid developing move, but White only scores 50.8% — essentially equal. Against Nc6 (1,750 games) you jump to 55.4%, a clear improvement. Nbd7 (1,283 games) is a bit passive, and you score 51.5%. The real outlier is h6 (774 games) — seemingly a waiting move, yet White scores a whopping 57.6%. Why? Because Black wastes a tempo, and you can seize space in the centre or prepare e4. The one to watch is g6 (736 games), where White scores just 48.4% — Black is angling for a fianchetto and ...Bg7, and you need a concrete plan (like e3, Nc3, and preparing d5 or e4) to keep the edge.
The Most Common Mistake to Avoid
With a comfortable +0.50 position, the biggest error is over-pressing or simplifying too early. Many White players rush to play e4 without preparing it properly — then Black can strike back with ...d5 or ...exd4, dissolving your centre. Another trap: swapping bishops on f6 too early, handing Black the bishop pair for nothing. Stay patient. Your small edge doesn't demand a knockout blow; it rewards steady improvement. Develop your knight to c3, castle kingside, and only advance your e-pawn when Black's counterplay is under control. The drill below will show you how to ride that +0.50 to a win.
Results across 14,828 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Be7 | 6,373 | 50.8% |
| Nc6 | 1,750 | 55.4% |
| Nbd7 | 1,283 | 51.5% |
| b6 | 789 | 50.1% |
| h6 | 774 | 57.6% |
| g6 | 736 | 48.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the London System d6 a good opening for beginners?
Yes — it's solid, requires less opening theory than many other systems, and the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 d6 4.c4 gives White a small but stable edge (+0.50). You avoid early tactical pitfalls and can focus on positional understanding.
What should Black do against the London after ...d6?
Black's most common moves are Be7, Nc6, or Nbd7 — all solid but slightly passive. The engine recommends the immediate break c5, which leads to a sharp pawn exchange. As White, you should welcome that line because it opens the centre in your favour.
How do I punish Black's ...h6 move in this position?
Black's h6 is a waiting move that doesn't help development, and White scores 57.6% against it. Use the extra tempo to strengthen your centre — consider e3, Nc3, or preparing e4. Don't lash out recklessly; just out-develop them.
Why does White score worse against ...g6 than other moves?
The fianchetto with ...g6 followed by ...Bg7 gives Black's dark-squared bishop an active diagonal. White scores only 48.4% here — below average. Your best plan is to play e3, Nc3, and consider a timely d5 or e4 push before Black fully coordinates.