Crush the LONDON System As Black

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@3trilogy]

Not sure I buy into this. After 3...Qb6 what if White plays 4.Nd2 Qxb2 5.Nb3 Qa3? What about the future of Black's Queen? Will White be be able to use Black's Queen position to leverage compensation for the pawn?

[@quizzleme]

@@3trilogy After 5. Nb3, does black have this play? Qxc4+ Grabs another pawn. Creates an awkward white king move and an escape for the black Queen, or if white blocks check with the Queen, a potential Queen swap, again the black King is awkwardly placed, and black has a 2 pawn advantage. I'm no expert. What do you think?

[@jasonbraun3149]

Never saw this line before. It violates basically every opening principle I learned 50 years ago, yet somehow it all works to create a nice position for black. And there are very few games in the database so it might be a nice surprise against London players who play automatically.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 London System Chess Opening 01:11 White's typical setup 01:55 Crush the London System as Black 03:31 Putting White under trouble 05:26 If White defends the pawn with b3 08:39 Key move in the main variation 10:58 Stopping White's plans 12:36 If White defends the pawn with Qc1 13:34 Can you find the best move? 15:00 Funny line: back to back TRICKS

[@KurtvonLaven0]

13:34 Qa5+ wins the bishop.

[@zinoubrahami8274]

This man is underrated

[@volodja99]

Thank you Igor, this was super useful. Keep up a great work. Btw, hope you and your family are staying safe.

[@dr.michaelkoblentz9617]

GM Igor, thank you so much for these videos! You are like no other teacher on planet Earth!! Question: the immediate 5...Nh5 6.Bg3 seems not the same as 6.Bg5, h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 as White could force this this loosening of Black's K-side as the price to be paid for hunting down the London Bishop / obtaining the B-pair (?) Similar to the Torre Attack. It is a difficult subject (certainly for me) to assess how much compensation is needed to give up the Bishop pair in various situations. Samisch NimzoIndian 4.a3 Bxc3+ White gets the doubled and almost dead c4-pawn (should we call this a gambit?). Trompovsky 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6!? exf6. Torre 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bxf6 (4.Bh4) Qxf6 5.e4 well, White has a nice center but is it really worth the two bishops long-term?

[@zuheyr1]

Thank you!

[@cwesley2005]

Igor Smirnoff is the best!!

[@GScrubb181]

That cat has got to be an ornament mate.

[@pawekowalik126]

What if white will play 2. Nf3 instead of 2. Gf4? In that case after 2...c6 white can play for instance 3.c4 or another move and idea with Qb6 for black can be useless. Of course in that case game can transfer to another opening.

[@Z0R0zeenee]

Your videos are very informative and easy to understand, you have helped my chess game massively. Thank you Igor!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

❤

[@heikkihattunen9871]

Thanks, I agree!

[@mcbigswig1569]

Great video, Igor,, blows the London system right up, thank you for posting.

[@bobby2ram]

Thanks for the video

[@jeanmasselin3742]

This is great line 🙂, I have been struggling for months to find a solid response to the London as Black, and I find that the totally unknown yet solid nature of this line (look up the stats on Lichess, it's amazing how few people play it) a true advantage. Besides, it forces White out of their typical 'control E5' auto-pilot ambition. Question : I could not find any reference or name. Does this system for Black have a name ? I've been browsing through various Indian lines as we open with 1...Nf6, but could not find any name or book.

[@chesscoach2471]

Spasibo Igor.

[@pwner-yd2te]

13:40 ...Qa5+! Great video and cute cat!

[@trevettmccandliss3438]

I love this video! Do you have a recommendation for black if white plays the Trompowsky instead of the London?

[@QZI37]

Resign.

[@christoslazo2081]

What about if White plays in move 3 c3?its one of his main moves anyway and it allowed him to put his queen in her normal square

[@rmendeljacobs2832]

also, however b2 is defended (let's say at 13:16, white plays qc1. then,) black can play h5 threatening to play g5 and trap the bishop (because of queen fork)

[@adrianapollyon5087]

What? 🤔 Can you explain more?

[@TheAnshuman1974]

@@adrianapollyon5087 well asked! Ha Ha!! 😆

[@sandeepverygoodvedeo8693]

Very very thanks Sir

[@random9-548]

Very nice line, what I like about this is even if white defends well you have created an unbalanced position with plenty of chances to play for a win, you know, without risking anything because its a solid foundation.

[@ganeshpillai7545]

Very helpful video

[@jackson32]

A really good London player actually will play different setups depending on what black plays. There are books that give good repertoires against various black set ups and there is I think a really good chessable London based repertoire for white which again, plays differently depending on what black plays. Just throwing out the same moves is the lazy way to play the opening and a strawman, and mentioned by lots of people like in this video, but it is not being honest.

[@adrianapollyon5087]

These people are trying to make chess players robot chess players, making memorized dumbed down knowledge.

[@satadeepdasgupta397]

You're right but I used this strategy against many strong players like 2200 rated. it's worked

[@satadeepdasgupta397]

@@adrianapollyon5087 it was always like that brother. professional chess was always about remembering lines

[@shrinivas105]

Just mugging moves doesn't make u a good player at all...just like white got all response, black can also have different response to equalise..whats your point here ?

[@heatherlandre]

There are even good responses to this video that aren’t covered.

[@bartoszmaks1427]

13:45 Qa5+

[@mac9026]

QA5+ double attacking the hanging bishop

[@Aaronwaynemack]

13:43 Q A5

[@souro_v969]

Its like pirc defence Czech variation

[@aryanswarnkar5081]

the answer is 6...Qa5+!.... Its a fork which ultimately wins the bishop

[@andrecastro4003]

Best chess channel!

[@unh0lys0da16]

Don't forget to block the user that played the London System.

[@JerryCricketGaming]

Hahahaha ;)

[@RabiCab]

Br.. i used to play London system... Im seeing this video to avoid those mistakes

[@piusluanga5883]

Feel good to know there's more of us😂😂😂​@@RabiCab

[@NothingLeftToDoButWin]

Lmao

[@gangster.gaming4551]

😂​@@RabiCab

[@David-bh1rn]

Play the Englund Gambit and destroy bishop premovers by taking the bishop

[@matlhokothabo]

How to play agains Queens gambit?

[@lomeshnaidu712]

I hope this helps me in my tournament which is on 31st March means tomorrow thanks to help us all one day when I be a GM I will challenge you till then you can wait 😊😂

[@luissantiagocorreia]

Qa5+, winning the B.

[@frankbeerbaum5593]

exactly, just my idea, too!

[@Aaronwaynemack]

Hundo

[@RabiCab]

Whats is the name of this opening

[@suryavoroy3527]

very important video

[@frankbeerbaum5593]

A lot better against Qb6 is Kce with a lot of danger for white's Queen! Secondly, there is no need for white to play 3e3, white could easily play 3c3 and later e3. This system only works against London players playing on autopilot without thinking!

[@thuyenlee8995]

What is Kce ?

[@frankbeerbaum5593]

@@thuyenlee8995 Sorry for the misclick / wrong spelling: I meant Nc3

[@frankbeerbaum5593]

@@thuyenlee8995 Na3 is also an option!

[@thuyenlee8995]

@@frankbeerbaum5593 I think the problem of both lines if after queen takes b2 the knight doesn't have a defender anymore and the danger is kinda fake, what I mean is like queen a3 seems to can be played at any time which just stops any ideas at all.

[@violetblossom6241]

Check with qa5 then take the bishop

[@iankemp1131]

After Bg5 Black wins the bishop with Qa5+. This actually came up in one of the shortest ever grandmaster games in the 1980s; 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c6 3 e3?? Qa5+ ... 0-1.

[@DavidPeriard]

Cat! Also thank you, this was truly a great lesson. Would you ever consider doing a lesson on the Botvinnik English? :-)

[@dandendinochess]

Very instructive video! Thanks!

[@IncognitoHkx]

Those all the moves which are told for black so that it can CRUSH london system... i have studied and learned all already... in a tutorial of london system (channel- chesstalk) he told about all the variations what black can play... and he also said against literally against any setup of black london can be played... also he informed a sligtly diff variation as well is black plays king indian setup... SO YA ITS NOT JUST SOME MOVES AND LONDON CAN BE CRUSHED...i accept it can be crushed but easily.. if queen of black directly comes to attack, i know for that.. if knight attack my bishob i m already prepare for that... if black (black square bishob) attack my bishob i m prepared... SO ya it can be crushed but not easily

[@mariannefischer3613]

I'm new to all this. Your line reminds me of the PIRC defense. What do you think of the PIRC for black against d4?

[@larslover6559]

Pirc for black against d4 is in effect Kings Indian defence

[@federicochiesa6308]

Beautiful teacher... oh sorry, i mean beautiful cat and great teacher!

[@ferdinandkuhn6975]

13:40 f6. Kicking the bishop out and preparing an attack in the middle (1090 elo)

[@FarajBoy]

it is acc qa5+ winning the bishop

[@ferdinandkuhn6975]

@@FarajBoy true... guess I was wrong

[@alphablitz1024]

Helpful! Thanks!!

[@aaronjayeeduran2578]

Wow thank u Coach

[@MrDanielfff777]

This is helpful, thank you

[@ehjrrdhhdd919]

Thanks igor

[@carolynfuleihan3820]

Why not play queen to a5?

[@trentonrothan9724]

I agree. This is a common tactic to use this check to pick up the loose piece. It happens in Cambridge springs and alapin delayed as well. These tactics are based on undefended pieces. I'm Cambridge springs it isn't a check, but it is a similar idea.

[@saiesasrikarkommaraju736]

Ahh that's brilliant informative as well

[@JabarFarahi]

Q a5 check wins the Bishop.

[@RahulVishwakarma-iu5yk]

Tell someone title of this video without context

[@GeorgiAmudov]

Is the cat dead?

[@ChamindaKumara-g5t]

😅😅😅

[@valerius9751]

15:36 doesn't it even out if black takes seeing as how white would open up the H file for their rook?

[@mkayy736]

No, in this opening the dark square bishop is key to remove for black, so he can launch attack on dark squares on the other side

[@rmendeljacobs2832]

At 7:23, after bg5, black can also be tricky and play bg4, and if white responds with be2 to break the pin - a very natural move - white will win a piece with bxf3, bxf3 qa5+!! Just something I noticed how white can be even trickier than trying to trade off the bishop. White may be able to win it outright.

[@adrianapollyon5087]

You meant Black can be tricky and win. Not the White.

[@Anteater23]

Nice spot!

[@DavidEmerling79]

I've encountered a lot of London players who play c3 *before* they play e3. This allows them to respond with ...Qb6 should white play Qb3. Black is usually happy to exchange queens and get an open a-file for their queen rook. This anti-London system precludes playing 1...d5, it seems. If one's defensive repertoire in response to 1.d4 (expecting a Queen's Gambit) is based on 1...d5, then this anti-London system throws all that knowledge out the window. This recommended system against the London is excellent if you're *extremely* confident that your opponent is going to play the London. If he doesn't, black is kind of stuck with some kind of Indian defense. The problem is that I don't play the King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian nor Benoni defenses. If white *doesn't* play the London after I've played 1...Nf6 - now what?

[@karlowolf4834]

If you play 1...d5 obviously stick to that. Try gothams video on chrushing the London. I don't usually prefer his videos for learning, but this is pure gold. I literally considered switching from 1...Nf6 to d5 just to destroy those brain dead morons who play the London. Fortunately, I found this video, so I can keep my Benko gambit options available :)

[@zarintasnim4093]

After Nf6, you can easily play c6 and then follow it up with c6 and play the Slav or play e6 and play the Queen's Gambit Declined

[@levtros6289]

The problem is that after 4.nbd2 white gets strong initiative for a pawn

[@karlowolf4834]

I'm just learning this, but I don't see that. After Qxb2 Rb1 you get a second pawn, just save the queen via a5 probably, don't create a weakness, trade everything and you win. If not, the queen can be left on b2 for awhile, and you develop the rest of your pieces. And also, think about the players that actually play the London, and why they play it. They are brain dead morons who want to avoid learning anything, and just spam the same boring crap. They always play the same structure and tricks. They do get good at it, but at nothing else. Most of them are not capable of using initiative.

[@levtros6289]

@@karlowolf4834 i mean b d3,nf3,0 0 at the time that the quin has nothing to do on b2

[@levtros6289]

it,s even better to play 3.nf3 instead 3.e3,so after qb6 4.nbd2 qb2 5.nc4 qb4 6.c3 qc3 7.bd2 1 0

[@gicko2338]

5... Qxc3 in that line, 0-1

[@davidrobertson1980]

Thanks brother

[@chessgrandprix]

Bg5 Qa5+

[@watcharakanitthabut]

thank you

[@kithmalgunawardana6686]

Hey igor how about g5 after white plays b3.i saw some ticky line with that

[@thuyenlee8995]

Im guessing goes mean after bishop take g5 you go queen a5 but he has bishop e 5 which look dumb but the point is if you threten the bishop you just simply takes which makes the doubled pawns a really good target and the pawns simply went too far

[@garrykasparovchesscentre3522]

Very excellent analysis

[@OhDearBabajan]

Great video! What is the system called by black here? Btw you missed a crucial defense by white against the black queen: kd2

[@jarethozb07]

Qa5+

[@onlyshahramandchess]

h6

[@boopteehee6663]

This is actually what I play against the London so I was surprised because it is so rare :)

[@johnakimoto8619]

Haha the cat! I love it. Thanks so much for all the content you put out. Definitely one of my top chess creators. Do you do 1 on 1 coaching sessions and lessons?

[@AngryBird-hx5tz]

Thanks sir

[@kugelblitzingularity304]

imo the c5 line is way more challenging

[@adrianapollyon5087]

Who's playing that line? White or Black?

[@nashh600]

@@adrianapollyon5087 black

[@mackenziekelver1314]

6. Qa5, forking the king and bishop.

[@haphaz7ard]

Which is the game where Kasparov played this?

[@syafrisyafri3396]

1. ......... Qa5+

[@chilakashalemraju3668]

Very useful. Thank you

[@countbelisarius9742]

Main issue is that black needs to be prepared to play either a Slav defence or Czech defense after 3. c4. Nothing wrong with those, but a lot of theory.

[@rats0155]

Or nimzo or Budapest.

[@ramilparedes9930]

Very informative

[@huijunfeng1222]

H6

[@lukastux3024]

Oh no!! You disclosed my secret weapon!!

[@jcjensenllc]

while interesting it is impossible to follow

[@normanwilson9594]

If W plays Bg5, B can reply h6 and chase the B b4 exchanging it.

[@aleksk9643]

This reminds system Colle for me...

[@brokenbackcoil3777]

puzzle a simple double attack by qa5+ winning the g5 bishop. Bye.

[@zacharysherry2910]

Igor talking about chess in front of that sleeping cat reminds me of chess conversations with my girlfriend and I...😴

[@saiesasrikarkommaraju736]

Qa5#

[@ilyaibrahimovic9842]

Never play f6

[@Inforza]

I allready played this line or i crush the london system with the kings indian defense.. both work fine

[@pedromilhomens7351]

What if you just play knight d2 and ignore the threat on b2?

[@JustinB_Oz]

Thanks for this. London is a very annoying system to play against.

[@pedrosousa5969]

The cat owns the scene

[@paulkindervater842]

Instead of the white king castling, could the White Castle/Queen/Castle come down the h file !!!

[@wcg19891]

If I am playing the London and see black move C6, I’m immediately playing C3 to bring out my queen to block.

[@mikekeenan8450]

Solution to puzzle: If White plays Bg5, Black picks up the bishop with Qa5 ch.

[@202kryptonitemusic]

a simple counter for black is 1.Nc6, 2.e5

[@nabilkha5647]

merci

[@quizzleme]

Can Black play the London position also, to defend against the London?

[@rafaelrojas7249]

Is a bad line, i'm a London player and never play b3, only someone who don't know play London would make b3.

[@random9-548]

b3 is the top engine move by stockfish, that means that any other route should be atleast fine for black.

[@vladislavshevchenko634]

I really dislike queens pawn games, and especially London, they are super boring.

[@thelarkgaming2203]

What if my opponent attack my QUEEN on B6 with his D2 Knight by bringing it on C4??

[@LokangoFreewar15]

Basically it's a king's indian defense with other move order