The London System
One easy setup against almost everything: Bf4, e3, Bd3, Nf3, c3. Solid, low-maintenance, and quietly venomous: a club-player's best friend.
The practical plan
White builds a dependable centre with d4 and e3, develops the dark-squared bishop before closing the pawn chain, and chooses a break with e4 or c4 according to Black's setup.
Typical pawn structure
The familiar triangle is a starting structure, not an instruction to make the same moves regardless of the opponent. Piece placement and the timing of the central break decide whether White has pressure or only a passive shell.
A common mistake to avoid
Do not play the London on autopilot. Watch for ...c5, ...Qb6 and ...Bf5, and solve the concrete pressure on b2 before continuing a memorised setup.
Step through the main line
The lines
The London Setup
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Bg3 O-O 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Nbd2
vs the Fianchetto
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. h3 Nbd7 7. O-O
vs an Early ...c5
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 Qb6 5. Qb3 c4 6. Qxb6 axb6
vs ...Bf5
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 Bd6 7. Bg3
How this guide is made: the lines and explanations come from the authored Strong Squares repertoire curriculum. Automated checks verify legal move sequences and required teaching fields. Independent chess-editor approval remains a private-preview release gate. Read the teaching method.