Incidentally, this thread reminds me of a game from yesterday in a related system:  1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 e6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O and now instead of ye olde 8. Ne5, Richard Rapport's 8. a4, followed by Qb1 and h4, resulted in a 19-move win against an IM.

fling wrote on 01/28/15 at 19:12:05:


Yea  that too!  It's just bad for white in a couple of ways
  
Yet,  Must be something to London positions where the Qc1 is played. theory wise the posistion in equal but I don't like them. Kamsky and a few other very strong GM's have played into those position and have won.    I'm wondering if there isn't some hyper modern "bounce back" white gets after black's exhausted his development.  Maybe in Black's attempt at stifling white development  in the end only gives white targets to attack???  still I don't like them  (resulting positions) 

also of note... 
2. Bf4 doesn't prevent the ...Bf5. When I look at the theory on symmetrical  lines I find them very subtle and tricky and early c4 by white usually gives the edge to white.  I find positions in both the Caro Kan and Slave exchange interesting IMO with a lot of dynamics both tactical and positional .. People find them boring and stale, I don't. 

Well yea..Certifiably getting e5 is natural,  but I think that is tougher than it looks. (without giving some form of concession with someone who knows what they are doing with the London)   I was taking the move order from from the game I posted that had an early h4. (the only one I could find on CB on line data base) 

Lately I've been exploring  some interesting lines In this var 
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Bd6 4.Bxd6 Qxd6 [4...cxd6 5.Qg4!?] 5.Qg4!? (very interesting) 

To me the critical line in the London is 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 in fact I think this is the main reason why many GM's who play the London play Nf3 before Bf4. (in order to play a colors reverse Semi Slav)

I play 4.dxc5 lines (which seem to have a pretty good pedigree as far as titled players using it) it's outside the norm of a London system but obviously you got to mix it up (I essay a 2.c4 as much as I play 2. Bf4) I do pretty good with it especially against Indian openings.. (as well as I do 2.c4 main lines.. ) 

IMO  Once Black pushes c4 he immediately equalizes  not just equalizes... the position becomes easy to play for him and harder for white.)    

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.Nf3 Qb6 5.c3?! Nc6 6.Qb3 c4 7.Qc2 g6! DONE game!   

 

Anonymous3 wrote on 08/17/14 at 02:37:20:



I play the London system.  thought I'd this give my "Amateur" opinion. 

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.e3 Be7 6.h4! Bd6?! 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.Bd3 Nf6 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Qe2 cxd4 11.exd4 Re8 12.Ne5 Bd7 13.g4!? Look  good to me!   
I found the game.... 

Blatney (2430) vs Frolik (2273)
Mor-cht 10/10/2004

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.e3 Be7 6.h4! Nf6 7.Nbd2 a6 8.Bd3 Bd7 9.Ne5 Rc8 10.g4!? I think this is the idea Gm Prie had in mind.    

10...cxd4 11.exd4 Qb6 12.g5?! IMO this is where Blantny goes wrong. His attack it thwarted by Black Queen smashing into White's center [Better was 12.Rb1 maintaining his space advantage on the king side 12...h6 13.Qf3²] 12...Nxe5! 13.Bxe5 Qxb2 14.gxf6 gxf6 15.Bf4 Qxc3 16.Be2 Qxd4µ Line

kylemeister wrote on 09/03/14 at 20:55:58:

I agree. White can't play Bg3 anymore. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

hello?