Chessy
Queen's Pawn Game: London System with ...f5 — You Are Already Better
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 f5 4.c4, Black has played the aggressive ...f5, trying to lock the centre and limit your light-squared bishop. Yet the engine already gives +0.97 — a clear, lasting advantage for you as White. That evaluation isn't theoretical guesswork: across over twelve thousand real games, you win nearly half the time, and Black's most popular replies all score below 50% for them. The drill below will show you exactly how to make this advantage count. Jump in and play the position against an adapting opponent.
Play the Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6: f5 against the engine
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Try the position yourself — play 4.c4 against the engine and see how your advantage unfolds. Create a free account to track your progress and revisit the drill.
Create a free account →Why ...f5 Gives You the Edge
At first glance, Black's set-up looks solid: a pawn chain from d5 to f5, with ...e6 reinforcing it. But you have already played 4.c4, the perfect break. Black's fifth-rank pawns can't hold the centre forever. Your light-squared bishop on f4 is active, your knight on f3 eyes e5, and Black's kingside is already committed — that f5 pawn weakens the e6 square and makes g6 a potential target later. Stockfish evaluates this at +0.97 in your favour, a clear advantage. The position is rich for you because Black has taken on a structural commitment without enough development to back it up.
The Engine's Top Answer and What It Tells You
The computer recommends Bd6 as its first choice — Black trades off your dangerous f4-bishop. The full line runs Bd6 e3 Nf6 Nc3, reaching a balanced but pleasant middlegame for you. Notice that after Bd6 you should answer with e3, not Nc3 immediately, to keep the bishop trade available on your terms. Even in this best-case line for Black, you maintain your edge. More importantly, the engine didn't choose any of the ultra-aggressive moves — it wants to simplify slightly and let your centre advantage speak. That's a strong signal that your position doesn't need risky forcing play; sound development suffices.
What the Statistics Reveal About Black's Choices
Let's look at the most-played replies from this exact position across 12,230 games. Nf6 (5,063 games) scores only 47.9% for White — solid but unspectacular. c6 (3,992 games) is similar at 46.3%. These are Black's practical tries. But the real story is in the less common moves: dxc4 (622 games) gives you a huge 61.7% score, Nc6 (286 games) scores 58.0%, and even Bb4+ (208 games) nets you 55.8%. That's a clear pattern — the more Black cooperates tactically, the better your results. When Black grabs the c4-pawn or develops too ambitiously, your lead grows sharply. The total picture: you win 49.5% of games, draw 3.9%, and lose 46.6%. That 3% gap in your favour, combined with the engine's +0.97, shows this is genuinely a position to fight for.
The Most Common Mistakes to Punish
Black's most popular replies (Nf6 and c6) both score under 50% because they leave the central tension unresolved. After Nf6, your plan is straightforward: develop with Nc3 and e3, then decide whether to play cxd5 or prepare e4. The key is not to rush — your advantage is positional and lasting. If Black plays c6, they're preparing ...b5 or ...dxc4 with ...b5 to follow. Stay alert: your best response is often to complete development and only capture on d5 when it suits you. The dxc4 mistake — grabbing the pawn — is Black's worst-scoring option at 61.7% for you. After cxd5 exd5, you have a clean IQP position with excellent piece play. Keep the pressure on, and Black will often crack.
Results across 12,230 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 5,063 | 47.9% |
| c6 | 3,992 | 46.3% |
| Bd6 | 1,276 | 48.4% |
| dxc4 | 622 | 61.7% |
| Nc6 | 286 | 58.0% |
| Bb4+ | 208 | 55.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the London System with ...f5 a good opening for White?
Yes, it scores well. Stockfish gives +0.97, a clear advantage for White, and across over 12,000 games you win 49.5% of the time. The position favours you if you develop naturally and keep the central tension.
What is the best move against the London System ...f5?
After 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 f5 4.c4, the engine recommends Bd6 as Black's best reply. For you as White, the top continuation is to meet Bd6 with e3, then Nf6 Nc3, maintaining your edge with sound development.
How should White handle Black's most common reply, Nf6?
If Black plays 4...Nf6, continue with natural development: Nc3 and e3, keeping the option of cxd5 or e4 later. White scores 47.9% from this line, and your advantage is structural rather than tactical.
What happens if Black captures on c4 with dxc4?
That's Black's worst-scoring move by far — you win 61.7% of the time. The line typically goes cxd5 exd5, giving you an isolated queen's pawn position where your piece activity and central control are excellent.