Magnus Carlsen's TOP SECRET LONDON SYSTEM move order recipe

Hi all

I noticed that Magnus Carlsen used 2.Bf4 in 2017 in a fun game against Wesley So

I did a video about this game here which became one of my more popular videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAvHoPBSEbU

( My Magnus Carlsen playlist: https://kingscrusher.tv/carlsen )

Perhaps given the video got eventually more than 300k views, it contributed to the wave of interest in the London system and in particular to 2.Bf4

As explained in the video, it seems that 2.Bf4 has quite a bit going for it even though it seems to break the principle of Tarrasch which indicates

Bishops before Knights as an opening principle violated

"Develop Knights before bishops" - Tarrasch

However "Principles" in general are like "rules of thumb" - they an be broken depending on the specific requirements of the position. Or they can be seen as like wave functions - the high points of the wave match the particular things they are applied to. In the more "open game", generally for example after 1.e4 e5 2. Bc4 is not considered great as it gives Black more options e.g. Nf6 is an option. 2.Nf3 is considered best because generally, it limits black's options in order to generally parry the threat of Nxe5.

But in the London system
1.d4 d5
2.Bf4

This bishop move does seem to make a lot of interesting sense and in a way gives White more options because it doesn't block the d1-h5 diagonal as explained in the video. Specifically also if Black is intending a quick c5 and Qb6 to hit the "weakness of the last move"- the Bishop neglecting b2, then White is often better prepared now with a move like c3 and maybe Qb3 later on black playing Qb6.

One key priority of the London system is to make sure the Bishop is out of the pawn chain - and in this respect seems like an upgrade to the "Colle System". But Bf4 also leaves b2 weak. So playing 2.Bf4 right away affords a more immediate resolution if c5 and Qb6 are attempted.

The London system had been pioneered by Gata Kamsky who has been a great streamer at lichess. Generally both players have actually used both 2.Nf3 and 2.Bf4.

Statistics on Move 2

According to the Chessgames.com databases at the time of this blog:

• Gata Kamsky has played 2.Nf3 27 times and 2.Bf4 16 times
• Magnus Carlsen has played 2.Nf3 17 times and 2.Bf4 6 times

So actually 2.Nf3 is overall the more "main-line" move, and 2.Bf4 and somewhat interesting novelty move order to explore. The 2.Bf4 move order was used by James Mason quite a bit for example in the following game back in the 1800's :

I have always thought of the London system as a solid and reliable opening, and yes I did create a course on it, even though it might seem quite "positional" for my tastes for tactics and King Hunting. But given the huge interest given to this particular system, I felt it was justified.

"Systems" openings - good or bad?

On the upsides, It seems in general "systems" openings have actually been used even by our greatest World champions. Bobby Fischer, for example, made great use of the King's Indian Attack which is not particularly theory intensive but he ended up playing many brilliant games e.g. this as a starting position doesn't seem to require too much memorisation of opening theory:

But later we get this position:

White to play and win - one of my favorite Bobby Fischer games comes from a "Systems opening".

On the downsides of not playing more mainstream opening theory, maybe system openings do not encourage the tactical battles or the experience of different pawn structures, that playing a sharper repertoire can provide. It is nice to experience in my view different pawn structures - especially the more dynamic structures such as playing with an Isolated Queen's pawn or doubled pawns, to see they can be double-edged in nature.

I have personally felt though that many players, really need to spend a large percentage of their time improving their tactical abilities, and maybe thematic pawn structure plans can come later.

For me, personally, tactical abilities make the whole "process" of improving at chess more rewarding and fun - and it is better to tactically swindle opponents than be tactically swindled from otherwise great-looking positions from say a pawn structure perspective or other advantages.

If players can find ways of less time memorising sharp opening variations and more on tactics training and just trying to get by in the opening, then maybe that is a good thing overall for a player's growth, development, and "self-encouragement".

It seemed to be the case even for Bobby Fischer, that in quite a lot of games Fischer would play the Kings Indian Attack system as mentioned above. Additionally with this in mind, Openings such as Gambits can also be used just to deliberately head for sharp tactical positions as a form of tactics training as well.

Essentially openings can be used in a wider perspective - e.g. playing "systems" openings, to actually leave more time for training tactics e.g. with the use of puzzles (instead of memorising sharp lines of the Sicilian defence which might never even turn up).

It seems that GM Sadler had to be taken away from the London system as he was a great fan, but it didn't seem to hurt his chess to have the London system in his repertoire early on. He later became one of the UK's strongest Grandmasters.

Gambit openings

Deliberately playing Gambits - especially when the emphasis is on tactics training. If one experiences the clash of the pieces more frequently without the interruption of pawns, then such "hand-to-hand" combat scenarios can be useful for developing tactical abilities in my view.

Takeaway points

• The London system is generally regarded as solid and reliable nowadays
• Exponents of the London system include Gata Kamsky, Magnus Carlsen, and other top grandmasters
• 2.Bf4 is an interesting move order to help keep the d1-h5 diagonal more open and not interfered with a knight on f3
• "Systems openings" can serve one well and reach playable middlegame positions without having to learn tonnes of opening theory - that time could be used on tactics puzzle training instead
• Gambit openings can also be useful for the goal of tactics training in a player's early development

Hope you enjoyed this blog :). Any likes and follows are really appreciated. Also, I also have some interesting chess courses at https://kingscrusher.tv/chesscourses to check out.

Cheers, K