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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) The Controversial London System (Read 107921 times)
BladezII
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #90 - 11/15/05 at 20:22:26
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Thanks, now I see.

Yes, after 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4, 2...c5 may be the only really critical move. Then we already have discussed 3.e4!?. Unless White wants to allow a transposition to the Slav Exchange with 3.c3 cxd4 4.cxd4, then his only serious alternative is 3.e3 when Black may try 3...Qb6. But this doesn't seem to be a problem after 4.Nc3! with a complicated position. 

2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 is less of a challenge than the immediate 2...Bd6. Here White can either play 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Ne5! with fine chances or 4.Nd2 Bd6 5.Bg3 when Black doesn't have the ...Ne7-f5 plan (5...Ne4?! 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Qg4 +/-). Neither can Black play for ...e5 with ...Ne7-g6.


I have looked at the line with 5.Ne5 and I have checked the ideas of ...Nc6  ...Bd6 ....Qc7 ... Ne4  and it fails to show how white can stop Black from equalizing.

I am still looking into 4.Nd2.
  

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Viking
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #89 - 11/13/05 at 14:03:51
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Another thing that I really like with this book is the "Lessons to be learned" after every game. At least I found these small concrete verbal explanations of "what to remember" very helpful... (I am also slow Wink)
  
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #88 - 11/12/05 at 12:52:10
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I waited and waited, checking Amazon, which reported that the book "Win with the London System" was not yet available.  (Gambit.  by Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovacevic)  Yesterday, on a visit to a local bookstore, I found it.

Wow !  I'll leave it to my betters to do a review, but I can assure you that this is a real book, right here beside my typer.  And already I'm liking it bunches.  How many opening books have you read that give you a good laugh right out of the box ?

The book is divided into two parts.  The first part consists o 30 illustrative games.  Complete.  The second, and longest, part looks at opening variations, without complete games.

So, as an introduction to the first part, the authors write:  "The critical reader may wonder whether the score 30-0 in White's favor objectively reflects the strength of the London System."

(Well, I laughed.)

They explain this imbalance, saying ". . . there are simply too many ways to play badly in chess."  Been there.  Done that.

I am slow.  Very slow.  I mean, I gotta set up the board, actually move the pieces and all that.  But my initial reaction to this book is very favorable.

I don't wanna sound as if I'm writing a blurb on the back of a dust jacket, but allow me one quote from the introduction to the book:  "While the professional chess-player maximizes his results by familarizing himself with as many typical positions as possible, this idealistic appraoch isn't realistic for most amateur players.  The alternative strategy is to study those positions you are most likely to reach and do your best to increase your chances to get them."

Yeah.

Sorry for the gush, but I think I'm going to really like this book.

  
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tafl
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #87 - 11/12/05 at 01:36:24
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Thanks, now I see.

Yes, after 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4, 2...c5 may be the only really critical move. Then we already have discussed 3.e4!?. Unless White wants to allow a transposition to the Slav Exchange with 3.c3 cxd4 4.cxd4, then his only serious alternative is 3.e3 when Black may try 3...Qb6. But this doesn't seem to be a problem after 4.Nc3! with a complicated position. 

2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 is less of a challenge than the immediate 2...Bd6. Here White can either play 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Ne5! with fine chances or 4.Nd2 Bd6 5.Bg3 when Black doesn't have the ...Ne7-f5 plan (5...Ne4?! 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Qg4 +/-). Neither can Black play for ...e5 with ...Ne7-g6.
  

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BladezII
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #86 - 11/11/05 at 16:53:30
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I should clarify then--

vs 
1.d4  d5
2.Bf4  c5 

is critical.

If Black still wishes to aim for ...Bd6 then he should play

1.d4  d5
2.Bf4  e6

when after 

3.e3   

here instead of 

3...    Bd6 ?!

Black should play 

3...   Nf6 
and after play ...Bd6

and that takes care of any Qg4 ideas by White.

Black can still play ...Bd6 without having to worry about Qg4 as given in the Book.
  

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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #85 - 11/11/05 at 16:07:48
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vs the 2.Bf4 move order, 2... c5 is critical and if Black still wishes to play ...Bd6, then 2... Nf6 and then 3...  Bd6 when Black stops white from playing Qg4 as given in that book.


Something is wrong with this sentence. Maybe the move-numbering or a missing move?
  

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BladezII
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #84 - 11/11/05 at 15:43:50
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" That's true. 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 comes very close to equalizing immediately.   
 
Some black players may choose to avoid this because White has a better chance of getting an edge with the Colle and Zukertort systems against an early ...d5 and ...e6, but that doesn't help a faithful Londoner much. "  -- Tafl

vs the Colle-Zukertot, Black can still set himself just the way White does, I mean, with the bishop fianchetto, ...Bd6, Nbd7 or Nc6 when I know Black does not have a hard time in this line to equalize since I have played the Zukertot as white and as Black.

about the other point:

" Win with the London System" suggests 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Bd6 4.Bxd6 Qxd6 5.Qg4!? as a way to spice the play up a bit. " 

vs the 2.Bf4 move order, 2... c5 is critical and if Black still wishes to play ...Bd6, then 2... Nf6 and then 3...  Bd6 when Black stops white from playing Qg4 as given in that book.
  

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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #83 - 11/09/05 at 01:38:15
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This system with ...Bd6   
solid and by no means handing over any advantage to  white on purpose      in  my opinion. 


That's true. 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 comes very close to equalizing immediately. 

Some black players may choose to avoid this because White has a better chance of getting an edge with the Colle and Zukertort systems against an early ...d5 and ...e6, but that doesn't help a faithful Londoner much.   

"Win with the London System" suggests 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Bd6 4.Bxd6 Qxd6 5.Qg4!? as a way to spice the play up a bit.
  

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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #82 - 11/09/05 at 01:21:30
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@Darthmambo:

Should that read "I didn't read what I just quoted" or "I checked and his ICC handle is not Goodluc"?
  

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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #81 - 11/09/05 at 00:43:48
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Solid it is. But I believe the f4-bishop is less misplaced in this line than the d2-knight is in the French Tarrasch. So I would expect White to get his normal, small plus in the resulting IQP-position. And realistically White cannot expect more than a small edge in most London lines.



What about this system?

1. d4 d5 
2. Bf4 e6 
3. Nf3 Bd6 

This system with ...Bd6 
solid and by no means handing over any advantage to  white on purpose   Wink   in  my opinion.


It's a good game for both.
  

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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #80 - 11/08/05 at 23:32:29
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I think 3.e4 is a strong idea, not to mention the shock value of the move. Belgium GM Luc Winants plays this pawn sac a lot in blitz on ICC with good results, his handle is Goodluc.

At last a thread not as emotionally charged as the infamous BDG.



Like a breath of fresh air methinks. Cheesy 

Topalert  Grin



Do you know his ICC handle? I like to check those games.
  
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #79 - 11/06/05 at 14:59:30
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Based on his many quality posts and nationality, I wonder if tafl = Sverre Johnsen, author of the recent London book?


I have to say, that this idea has struck me too.... Wink

Anyway,
At least tafl's inspiring london-posts here at chesspublishing made me buy the book (by Johnsen/Kovacevic).  Smiley I just got it and have just had a very quick look. So far my impression is good. 

To me some of the early Qb6 variations (like d4 Nf6 Bf4 c5!? with Qb6) is critical and I will look with great interest for their suggstions against this simple (and effective!?) plan.
  
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #78 - 11/06/05 at 04:06:36
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Ahh...

The luxury of internet anonymity  Smiley

I will not comment on my identity. There are quite a few Norwegian chessplayers. 

Tafl, by the way, is an old Norse word, meaning a board (same roots as the English 'table' and Latin 'tabula'), or a board game, and frequently (often erroneously) translated as 'chess' in old texts.
  

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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #77 - 11/06/05 at 03:32:55
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Based on his many quality posts and nationality, I wonder if tafl = Sverre Johnsen, author of the recent London book?
  
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John Cox
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Re: The Controversial London System
Reply #76 - 11/05/05 at 21:13:26
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Nice link - thanks. Not sure about Kovacevic having played little else but the London for 30 years. He certainly used the Colle to wipe me out in 1980 or so.

The review below that one rather catches the eye too. Apparently the Ruy Lopez 'is undergoing a revival'.

I must have missed its period underground.
  
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