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Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System as White
After 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4, White keeps the London idea alive with a quick bishop development and a solid, flexible setup. The position is completely balanced, so this opening is less about memorising a long forcing line and more about understanding plans and reacting well to Black’s choices. Use the drill to practise the critical reply, recognise the most common continuations, and get comfortable steering the game into a sound middlegame.
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Create a free account →What this opening is aiming for
The Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System gives White a familiar structure very early. Your bishop comes out before the centre is fully settled, and that usually helps you keep the position easy to play. Because the engine rates the position as dead level, you are not trying to prove an advantage right away. Instead, you want a stable development scheme, good piece activity, and a position where you can make natural moves without committing too much too soon.
The critical reply to know
At this exact position, the engine’s best move is c5. That tells you Black is ready to challenge the centre straight away instead of waiting passively. In the drill, make sure you are comfortable meeting that idea, because it is the most testing answer here. The listed continuation is c5 e3 Nf6 Nd2, which shows the type of structure you should expect after Black takes the central initiative.
What the database says here
The position has been reached in 63,468,858 games, so this is a very well-travelled tabiya. The practical results are close enough to balanced that neither side can claim much from the opening alone: White wins 51.8%, draws 4.2%, and Black wins 43.9%. That is a good sign for a playable White system, but it also confirms that you still need sensible moves and basic opening principles rather than hoping for a cheap edge.
Most common choices by Black
Black has several popular ways to meet your setup, and none of them is a surprise. The most-played continuations are Nc6 with 17,748,625 games, Nf6 with 15,173,331 games, e6 with 11,260,811 games, Bf5 with 9,416,516 games, c5 with 3,004,406 games, and c6 with 2,492,717 games. In other words, you should expect a normal developing move or a direct central challenge, not a narrow trap line. That makes this a good opening for learning stable response patterns rather than memorising surprises.
Results across 63,468,858 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc6 | 17,748,625 | 53.4% |
| Nf6 | 15,173,331 | 51.4% |
| e6 | 11,260,811 | 51.4% |
| Bf5 | 9,416,516 | 50.8% |
| c5 | 3,004,406 | 49.1% |
| c6 | 2,492,717 | 50.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System good for White?
Yes, it is a fully playable choice for White. The engine says the position is dead level, so you are not supposed to be better immediately, but you also are not under any serious pressure from the opening alone. It is a practical system for getting a familiar setup.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move is **c5**. That is the most important reply to understand because it directly challenges White’s centre and leads to the continuation given in the drill. If you learn to handle that move, you will be better prepared for the sharpest test.
What are the most common replies from Black?
The most-played continuations are **Nc6**, **Nf6**, **e6**, **Bf5**, **c5**, and **c6**. These are all natural developing or central moves, so the opening usually stays in a standard middlegame shape. That is why this system rewards calm, principled play.
What kind of position should I expect after 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4?
You should expect a quiet, flexible middlegame rather than a forced tactical battle. The database results and engine evaluation both point to a balanced position, so piece development and central control matter most. The drill is useful for learning how to meet Black’s normal responses confidently.
How many games feature the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System?
Over 63 million Lichess games have reached the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System position. White wins 51.8%, Black wins 43.9%, with 4.2% draws — based on real rated games.