The London SystemA setup you can play against almost anything, and its trade-off.Chess1.d4, 2.Bf4 and a standard development scheme.11.d4 and 2.Bf4The bishop develops outside the pawn chain before e3 shuts it in.2e3Supports d4 and opens the f1 bishop.3Nf3, Bd3, c3A solid triangle of pawns and easy development.4Nbd2, then O-OComplete development.5Then Ne5 or a queenside planThe middlegame plans depend on Black's setup.TRADE-OFFVery little theory to learnReaches a playable position against anythingRarely gives White a large advantageCan become passive if played automaticallyPopular because it saves study time. Playing the moves without thinkingabout Black's setup is where it goes wrong.The London Systemlearnposters.com
The London System — printable games wall chart from LearnPosters. Free vector PDF, US Letter and A4.

The London System, step by step

1.d4, 2.Bf4 and a standard development scheme.

  1. 1.d4 and 2.Bf4The bishop develops outside the pawn chain before e3 shuts it in.
  2. e3Supports d4 and opens the f1 bishop.
  3. Nf3, Bd3, c3A solid triangle of pawns and easy development.
  4. Nbd2, then O-OComplete development.
  5. Then Ne5 or a queenside planThe middlegame plans depend on Black's setup.

Trade-off

  • Very little theory to learn
  • Reaches a playable position against anything
  • Rarely gives White a large advantage
  • Can become passive if played automatically

Popular because it saves study time. Playing the moves without thinking about Black's setup is where it goes wrong.

Questions about the The London System poster

What’s on the The London System poster?
5 numbered steps, with a full worked run-through. 1.d4, 2.Bf4 and a standard development scheme. 1.d4 and 2.Bf4 — The bishop develops outside the pawn chain before e3 shuts it in.; e3 — Supports d4 and opens the f1 bishop.; Nf3, Bd3, c3 — A solid triangle of pawns and easy development.; Nbd2, then O-O — Complete development.; Then Ne5 or a queenside plan — The middlegame plans depend on Black's setup.. Popular because it saves study time. Playing the moves without thinking about Black's setup is where it goes wrong.
Who is the The London System poster for?
The London System belongs to the Chess section rather than to a school year, because games is not something one grade owns. Anyone learning openings can pin it up — a beginner, a student mid-course, or someone revising years later.
When should you use the The London System poster?
It is a system, not a line. The same five moves work against most Black setups. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so The London System belongs on the wall where that games work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.
What other posters go with The London System?
Avoiding Theory, The Caro-Kann and When to Castle sit alongside The London System in the Chess section. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.Avoiding TheoryThe Caro-KannWhen to Castle
Is the The London System poster free to download and print?
Yes. The London System downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the Chess section. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.Read the licence
What size does the The London System poster print at?
The London System is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of The London System loses nothing.Printing guide

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