ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 1

You a b c d e f g h
#1
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The London System
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a b c d e f g h 6 6
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3 3 a b c d e f g h

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1 1 knight on c6 and allow a White knight to

a b c d e f g h jump into e5.

Black just played Qb6 with the typical You

idea of attacking the b2 pawn. Which #3
move is recommended for white? The The London System
move 1.Nc3! is best as the capture of
the b2 pawn is bad for Black in almost a b c d e f g h
all variations. After Qxb2 2.Nb5 Na6
8 8
3.Rb1 Qxa2 4.Ra1 Qb2 5.Rxa6 bxa6
6.Nc7+ Kd8 7.Nxa8 White has a 7 7
decisive advantage.
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You
4 4
#2
The London System 3 3

2 2

(Diagram) 1 1

a b c d e f g h
White have several plans, one of which
is to control the e5 square. Which move
did White play to achieve that? The Black has just played Nxe5. Which move
thematic 1.Bb5 aims to eliminate the is better 1.Rxe5 or 1.dxe5? In this
ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017
position it is better to play 1.dxe5!
claiming the strong d4 square for the
knight. From here it will be superior to
the bishop and the e5 pawn controls the
d6 and f6 squares.
You
#4
The London System
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Black has just played Bd6. How should
White continue? 1.Bg3! White should
not allow the exchange of the bishop
without getting something in return. Now
if black plays Bxg3 2.hxg3 White gets
to open the h-file and if black does not
take on g3, White will end up playing
Ne5 occupying a powerful outpost and
protecting the bishop.
2
You
#5
The London System
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In variations with an early Bf5 by Black,
White usually plays either c4 or c3 and
Qb3. However in this game White found
another interesting plan. What did he
play? White played 1.Bd3 offering the
exchange of bishops. After Bxd3 2.Qxd3
c6 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0
6.h3 Nbd7 instead of the more natural
breaks like c4 or e4, White preferred the
plan with a4 and a5 with a good position.
You
#6
The London System
(Diagram)
White uses of the main plans against
the Slav setup. What is it? 1.Qb3!
attacks the weak point b7 and, after Qb6
ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 3

a b c d e f g h
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with idea of moving the knight to a5,
with Nb3 and Na5, putting pressure on
b7. It is not good for Black to exchange
the knight, with Bd8 and Bxa5, since
bxa5 opens the b-file, and from a5 the
knight has threats against b7 and c6.

4 4
#8
3 3 You
The London System
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1 1
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a b c d e f g h
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2.c5! White forces the advantageous
6 6
exchange of queens.
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You
#7 3 3
The London System
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1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
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White has an advantage with the passed
b-pawn but Black can still save the game.
How? 1...Nd7 maintains control and
equality - you have to stop the b-pawn.
[ In the game 1...e4?? was played and
2.b6 gave White a decisive
advantage. ]

1 1

a b c d e f g h

What is the strongest plan for White in

this position? The plan is 1.Nd2!
ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 4

You a b c d e f g h
#9
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The London System
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a b c d e f g h 6 6
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1 1 With 1.Bxa6! Rxa6 2.Be5! Nd7 3.Bxg7

a b c d e f g h Kxg7 4.b4! White consolidates his extra
pawn.

Black exchanged queens on b3 but this

allows White to apply pressure along the You
a-file. How should White continue this #11
plan? The main idea is to pressurize the The London System
a-pawn. In the game 1.Ba6 Bxa6
2.Rxa6 Nb8 3.Bxb8! Rfxb8 4.Rfa1 a b c d e f g h
was played with a clear and comfortable
8 8
advantage, playing against the weak a7
pawn. 7 7
[ Another good plan was 4.b4
6 6
with idea of b5. ]
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You
#10 3 3
The London System
2 2

1 1
(Diagram) a b c d e f g h

Black wants to recapture the c5 pawn.

How can White keep the advantage? What is the best plan for White in this
ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017
position? With 1.Rc7! Ba6 2.Bxa6
Rxa6 3.Rac1 dominating the c-file and
the 7th rank, White have a practically
decisive advantage. The g3 bishop is
much stronger than its g7 counterpart
and the White queen will come to b5 to
put pressure on the queenside
weaknesses.
You
#12
The London System
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How should White continue here? Once
again the thematic 1.Qb3 is the best
move. When black moves the c8 bishop
White must pressure b7 with Qb3.
You
#13
The London System
(Diagram)
5
a b c d e f g h
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How should White meet ...Bd6 ? 1.Bg5!
White should not allow the exchange of
the f4 bishop without getting anything in
return Be7
[ 1...f6 2.Qh5 g6 3.Bxg6 hxg6
4.Qxg6+ Ng7 5.Bxf6 with a clear
advantage to White ]
2.Bc2! The idea is Qd3 creating
weaknesses in Black's King position.
You
#14
The London System
(Diagram)
White has the opportunity to get a clear
advantage. How? With 1.Nb5!
threating Nxc7. If Na6 2.Qa4!
and now the lesser evil is c6
[ In the game 2...Nb4 was played
which allows 3.Nxc7+ Kf8 4.Nxa8
with a decisive advantage. ]
ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 6

a b c d e f g h
2.b4 a6 3.b5! cxb5 4.Bxb5 Rc8 5.Bd3
followed again by the plan of b4-b5 with
8 8
advantage for White.
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You
5 5 #16
The London System
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3 3
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1 1 7 7
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3.Qxa6 cxb5 4.Qxb5+ with clear
4 4
advantage.
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You
#15 1 1
The London System a b c d e f g h

a b c d e f g h
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Black has just played ...Bxa5. How
should White recapture? The correct
move is 1.bxa5! opening the b-file for
the white rooks to put pressure on the
b7 pawn. In the game, White got his
rooks to b4 and b3, won the b7 pawn
and the game.

3 3
You
2 2
#17
1 1 The London System
a b c d e f g h

(Diagram)
What is the best plan for White in this
position? The b5 break with 1.c5! Nbd7 Can you find the best move for White in
ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 7

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7

6 6 6 6

5 5 5 5

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1 1 1 1

a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

this position? The break with 1.c4! Be4

[ if 1...dxc4 2.d5! exd5 3.Nxd5 Bd8
4.Bxc4 with clear advantage ] You
2.cxd5 exd5 3.Nd2 Ra5 4.a4 #19
and Black is lost. If Bb4 5.Nxe4 dxe4 The London System
6.Red1 +-.
a b c d e f g h

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You
#18 7 7
The London System
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5 5
(Diagram)
4 4

Black has just played the tricky ...Bf5. 3 3

What should White do? 1.Qxf5!
gives White the advantage with the d5
pawn undefended. If the position had,
for example, knights on f3 and f6 then
Qc1 would be the best move. After Qxb2
2.Qxd5 Qc1+
[ 2...Qxa1 3.Qb5! ]
3.Ke2 Qb2+ 4.Kf3 with a winning
advantage after Qxa1 5.Bxc4! e6
6.Qb5
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
What is the best move for White? With
1.Rd5 White is winning a pawn after Qe7
2.Nxe5! Nxe5 3.Rxe5 since Qxe5
4.Bxb7+ wins the queen.
ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 8

You
#20
The London System

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Can you find the winning move for

White? 1.Be6+! fxe6
[ 1...Rd7 2.Bxd7+ with mate in few
moves ]
2.Qxe6+ Rd7 3.Qxd7#
1-0