Examining the London opening
TODAY we are looking at a few ideas in the London opening using a 10|0 game played 10 days ago on Chess.com between myself (1900), with the White pieces, and an Israeli player (1886).
1.d4 Nf6
2.Nf3 d5
3.Bf4
The three distinguishing moves made by White to produce the London System. The London System is a very solid system able to be played against almost all of Black’s defences. It is well known for producing slow and drawish manoeuvringtype positions. It is now thought more accurate to play 2. Bf4, instead of 2. Nf3 and 3. Bf4.
3...c6
The moves 3 . . . c5 and 3 . . . e6 are also strong options for Black. An example line is 3 . . . c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 e6 6.Nbd2 with a very slight edge for White.
4.c3
Better is 4.Nbd2, a typical move in the London; reserving the opportunity to play c4 in one move. For example, 4. Nbd2 Bf5 5. e3 e6 6. c4 Bd6 7. Ne5 OO 8. Qb3 gives a slight edge for White. 4...Bf5
5.e3 Bg6?!
There was no need to play this move. It does not use the valuable time in the opening efficiently. Better moves are e6, h6, and Nbd7.
6.Ne5 e6
7.Nxg6?!
While White claims the bishop pair, trading here unprovoked is not good, since White has already used two moves to develop this piece to a strong square. 7...hxg6
8. h3?!
Even though it makes sense to prevent Black from coordinating on h2 after 8 . . . Bxd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 this is an unnecessarily slow move. Now Black has equalised. Better ideas are to reinforce the bishop with 8. g3, and to play 8. Qb3 with tempo paired with Nd2 and c4.
8...Bd6
9.Bxd6 Qxd6
10.Bd3
After my 10th move I realised that I had not got from the opening what I wanted. Black can break in the centre with e5 before I can with e4, allowing him to hold greater central control at what felt like zero cost.
10 . . . Nbd7
11.Nd2 e5
12.dxe5 Nxe5
13.Be2 g5!
Even though this move is not especially strong from an objective standpoint it caused me to spend over 4 of my original 10 mins thinking of a reply. Black threatens g4, which I felt was uncomfortable for White. I missed that after 14.Nf3 Nxf3 15.Bxf3 g4? White can just take the g4 pawn.
14.Qc2
Another option was to play dynamically with 14.Qa4 g4 15.OOO gxh3 16.Rxh3 Rxh3 17. gxh3 Qe6 18. Rg1.
14...g4
15. h4 g5
16. g3
Another interesting line is 16.h5 Nxh5
17. Qf5 hitting both of Black’s gpawns, where Black still maintains an edge.
16...gxh4
17. Rxh4 Rxh4
18. gxh4 Ng6?!
This allows 19. h5 Nxh5 20. Bxg4 with a slight edge for White. Better was 18 . . OOO 19.OOO Rh8 20. Rh1 Qe6 where White’s hpawn is more of a liability than an asset.
19.OOO Nxh4
20.Rh1 Ng6
21.Qf5?!
Trying to annoy Black with an active queen and the threat of Bxg4. Sadly, these two birds could be dealt to with the one stone in 21 . . . Qe6, where White has no compensation in an endgame. The simple 21. Bd3 would have left White with sufficient activity as compensation for the pawn.
21 . . . Qe5??
A terrible gamelosing blunder, overloading the knight at the cost of the rook. 22.Qxe5+ Nxe5
23.Rh8+
Black resigns in view of the lost rook. Somewhat interesting to note that
White could instead have played 22. Rh8+ hoping for the more favourable 22 . . . Nxh8 23. Qxe5+ Kf8 24. Qxf6. Black can of course decline and choose the same line with 22 . . . Ke7 23. Qxe5+ Nxe5 24. Rxa8.
My opponent played well, taking advantage of my slow opening moves, earning an edge. Unfortunately, he blundered, having no chance to prove his edge in an endgame.
Solution:
1.Bb5+ Bc6 2. Bxc6+ Qxc6 3.Rh8+ Kd7 4.Qd8#
JamaicanAmerican chess commentator and author Maurice Ashley was the first black person to attain the title of Grandmaster, which he did six years after the above game was played, in 1999.