Chessy
The London System: Handling Black's Early Bishop Sortie 3...Bg4
The London System (1.d4, 2.Nf3, 3.Bf4) is a favourite among club players for its solid, idea-based setup. But when Black pins your knight with 3...Bg4, the natural developing move 4.e3 feels too passive. Instead, you can strike immediately with 4.Ne5, kicking the bishop and gaining space. In the resulting position, Stockfish rates the chances at +0.55, a small edge for White. That means you are already slightly better — as long as you know how to follow up. Over 47,916 games from this exact spot, White scores an excellent 53.1% against only 43.1% for Black. Let's see what the engine and the statistics recommend next.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: London System: Bg4 against the engine
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Now jump into the interactive drill and practice the London System against 3...Bg4. Face the most popular Black replies and learn to convert your early edge — a
Create a free account →The Point of 4.Ne5: Fight for the Centre
The London System is all about a quick, safe development with the bishop on f4. When Black plays 3...Bg4, they are threatening to trade your knight for their bishop, doubling your f-pawn after ...Bxf3. By advancing 4.Ne5, you meet that threat head-on: the knight now attacks key central squares and cannot be captured without Black giving up the bishop pair for no real gain. If Black takes on e5 (...Bxe5), you recapture with 5.dxe5, opening the d-file for your queen and rook while chasing the knight on f6. The pawn on e5 also cramps Black's kingside. The engine's evaluation of +0.55 reflects that White's central control and development lead are exactly what this opening promises.
The Engine's Top Choice: 4...Be6
The computer's best reply to 4.Ne5 is 4...Be6 — Black retreats the bishop and protects the d5 pawn from a new angle. Though only seen in about 2,083 games (where White still scores a healthy 54.2%), it is the most principled move. From here, the engine suggests the continuation: 5.e3 g6 6.c4. White simply builds the centre with e3, fianchettoes or develops the kingside normally, and then strikes with c4 to challenge Black's d5 pawn. The plan is straightforward: complete development, castle, and use your space advantage. You do not need to memorise reams of theory; just keep making natural London System moves, and the slight edge will carry you through the middlegame.
What the Statistics Tell Us (and Common Mistakes to Avoid)
The most popular Black move by far is 4...e6 (12,415 games), but Stockfish flags it as an inaccuracy costing about 0.8 pawns. Black blocks the bishop and surrenders the chance to challenge your knight. White scores 53.3% here. The second most popular, 4...Bh5 (10,357 games), is also an inaccuracy (loses ~0.6 pawns). Black tries to preserve the pin, but the bishop is awkward on h5 and can be chased later with g4 or h3. White scores 50.5% — still decent, but less punishing. The move 4...Nbd7 (4,507 games) is another inaccuracy (~0.7 pawns), as it blocks the queen's view of d5 and lets White maintain the knight on e5. The move that scores best for White is 4...Nc6 (4,114 games, White wins 56.4%) — Black develops but does not solve the pressure on e5. In every case, your task is the same: keep your knight on e5 until Black proves they can dislodge it, then use the extra space to build a lasting initiative.
Your Action Plan After 4.Ne5
Regardless of Black's reply, your follow-up is simple and flexible. Aim to play e3, supporting the centre and freeing your f1-bishop. Then develop naturally: Be2 or Bd3 (depending on Black's setup), 0-0, and c4 to pressure the d5 pawn. If Black ever plays ...Bxe5, recapture with dxe5 and enjoy the central pawn wedge. If Black tries ...Nbd7, you can consider Nxd7 or simply retreat to f3 — you've already gained time. The main idea is to trust your setup. You do not need to force a win; the +0.55 edge means you have pleasant chances without risk. In the drill below, test yourself against Black's most common replies and see how the London System's solid foundations translate into a real advantage.
Results across 47,916 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e6 | 12,415 | 53.3% |
| Bh5 | 10,357 | 50.5% |
| Bf5 | 10,244 | 51.7% |
| Nbd7 | 4,507 | 54.6% |
| Nc6 | 4,114 | 56.4% |
| Be6 | 2,083 | 54.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 4.Ne5 in the London System a good move against 3...Bg4?
Yes, it is the strongest reply. Stockfish gives White an edge of +0.55, meaning you are slightly better after 4.Ne5. White wins 53.1% of games from this position across nearly 48,000 master-level and club games.
What is the best move for Black after 4.Ne5?
According to the engine, Black should play 4...Be6, protecting the d5 pawn and preparing to develop. That move avoids the inaccuracies of 4...e6, 4...Bh5, or 4...Nbd7, all of which lose between 0.6 and 0.8 pawns of evaluation.
Which Black reply scores worst for White in the London System with 4.Ne5?
Surprisingly, 4...Nc6 gives White the highest win rate at 56.4%, while 4...Bh5 drops White's performance to 50.5%. But even against 4...Bh5, you retain a small edge as long as you follow up with natural development.
How should I continue after 4.Ne5 if Black plays 4...e6?
Play simply: 5.e3, developing the other bishop and controlling the centre. Black's inaccuracy (losing ~0.8 pawns) means you already have a comfortable edge. Build your position with Be2 or Bd3, castle, and later push c4 to pressure d5.