Chessy
How to Play the London System
The London System (1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4) gives White a solid, repeatable setup that avoids heavy theory while keeping genuine winning chances. Try it against the engine below, then see what 9 million games tell us.
Play the London System against the engine
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Create a free account →The idea behind 3.Bf4
White's plan is straightforward: develop the bishop before closing it in with e3, then build a compact center with e3, c3, and Nbd2. The bishop on f4 targets the e5 square and discourages Black from freeing with ...e5. Stockfish rates the position a near-equal +0.04 — that's barely a whisker of an edge, which means the London rewards understanding and structure over memorized lines. It's one of the easiest openings to pick up and one of the hardest for Black to dynamically unbalance.
What Black will throw at you
Across 9,094,964 games, Black's most common replies:
- 3...e6 — the most popular (2,478,030 games); solid and passive. White scores 51.4%.
- 3...Nc6 — second most common (2,194,119 games); fights for e5. White scores 53.7% — your best result here.
- 3...Bf5 — mirrors your bishop setup (1,612,082 games). White scores 50.0% — the most equal line.
- 3...c5 — the engine's preferred try, best for Black statistically (White only 46.9% in 726,082 games).
Black's most precise counters are the least popular — that's good news.
How to build your position
The standard recipe: after Bf4 and e3, play c3 to support d4, Nbd2 to keep the c-pawn free, and Bd3 to complete development. Against ...e6, the thematic break is a later e4, often triggered once Black has committed. Against ...Bf5, a bishop trade on d3 is fine — you recapture with the queen and keep a small edge. Against ...c5 (Black's best), respond with e3 then steer toward the pawn structure you want — the engine's line continues e3, Nc6, Be2. The London rarely punishes careless play; it punishes slow or passive Black setups.
What 9 million games reveal
White scores 51.3% across all 9,094,964 games — a real, if modest, plus. The pattern in the data: Black's most-played tries (3...e6 and 3...Nc6) both favor White more than the overall average, while 3...c5 (the engine's recommendation) cuts White's score to just 46.9%. The practical lesson: if Black knows to meet you with an early ...c5, the London's edge fades — but most players below master level won't. White's draw percentage is a low 4.4%, so the London produces decisive games.
Results across 9,094,964 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e6 | 2,478,030 | 51.4% |
| Nc6 | 2,194,119 | 53.7% |
| Bf5 | 1,612,082 | 50.0% |
| Bg4 | 791,401 | 50.8% |
| c5 | 726,082 | 46.9% |
| g6 | 493,075 | 49.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the London System good for beginners?
Yes — it's one of the most beginner-friendly White openings. Stockfish gives it just +0.04, so it's completely sound, and the plan (Bf4, e3, c3, Nbd2) is almost always the same regardless of what Black plays.
What is Black's best response to the London System?
Statistically, 3...c5 is best for Black, holding White to just 46.9% across 726,082 games. It challenges the center immediately. Most club players play 3...e6 or 3...Nc6, where White scores above average.
Does the London System work at higher levels?
Yes, up to grandmaster level — Fabiano Caruana and Magnus Carlsen have both used it. The +0.04 evaluation is tiny but the positions are rich enough for practical play.
What's the difference between the London System and the Colle System?
Both start 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 but differ on move 3: the London plays 3.Bf4 (developing the bishop early), while the Colle plays 3.e3 (keeping the bishop on c1 longer for the Bd3 plan). The London is more flexible; the Colle is more thematically focused on the kingside.
How many games feature the London System?
Over 9 million Lichess games have reached the London System position. White wins 51.3%, Black wins 44.3%, with 4.4% draws — based on real rated games.