Chess Opening Theory

The London System is a chess opening in which the following moves are played:

1. Chess Opening Theory And Practice
2. Chess Opening Theory For Beginners
3. Chess Opening Theory Queen's Gambit

• Stop struggling with complicated opening chess theory! ♜ Learn how to win games without even looking at the openings book! Stop struggling with complicated opening chess theory! ♜ Learn how to win games without even looking at the openings book! Alberto Chueca, FIDE Trainer & International Master BLOG. WRITE IN THE BLOG; ♟️ 01 VIP.
• The English is a chess Opening that happens after the move 1.c4 and can lead to both classical and modern positions. How To Reach The English Opening The English happens after White moves his c-pawn two squares: 1.c4 See what it looks like below.
• The Queen’s Gambit is white’s most popular response to the Symmetrical Queen’s Pawn Opening, and the most popular pawn “sacrifice” in chess opening theory by far. C4 helps white fight for a space advantage in the center, which is a key component of the Opening Principles.

Internet play, and usually with players who do not study opening theory. And at one time or another, all players, from Grandmaster to novice, have fallen for a chess trap or sprung one on some unsuspecting opponent. I have arranged the material alphabetically by opening name.

The idea behind the London System is: White defines a scheme for development and sticks to it, virtually regardless of what Black plays.

This means that theory is not as important in a “system” opening like this one, and that the ideas do not vary much from one variation to the other.

The London System has a reputation for being extremely solid, and it can often be a great way to beat set defenses against 1.d4

The London System can be divided into three major variations.

Black’s first choice is between the moves 1...d5 and 1...Nf6, although they usually change into one another.

If Black is a King’s Indian Defense player, he will most likely start with 1...Nf6 and follow up with g6, Bg7 and d6. This is the first line.

The other two lines include systems with 1...d5 (or 1...Nf6 followed by 2...d5).

Black, then, has a choice between breaking in the center with c5 or playing more modestly with the pawn on c6 or c7.

The three major variations are:

• London System with g6
• London System with e6 - no c5
• London System with e6 - c5

In the London System with g6, the Bishop is fianchettoed on g7, the Knight goes to f6 and the pawn to d6.

After developing pieces and castling, Black will want to do a pawn break by playing either c7-c5 or e7-e5.

A pawn break is a pawn move designed to free the player's position.

This is a good set up and borrows from the ideas of the King’s Indian Defense.

Black always plays the same way, virtually regardless of White’s options.

In the London System with e6 (so c5 isn’t played), Black decides not to fianchetto his Bishop and puts it on the e7 or d6 squares instead.

By not breaking through in the center - at least right away - with c5, Black is playing in a more modest and solid way.

This is an easy variation to approach the London System, especially for quiet players who play 1...d5 followed by 2...e6 against the Queen’s Gambit.

In the London System with e6 and c5, Black sets up a counter attack by using an early pawn break in the center.

Counter-attacking the center (with a pawn break) is an effective strategy to win with the Black pieces.

A chess opening theory table or ECO table (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) presents lines of moves, typically (but not always) from the starting position. Notatedchess moves are presented in the table from left to right. Variations on a given line are given horizontally below the parent line.

Arrangement[edit]

Chess opening theory tables are commonly published in opening books with annotations by experienced chess players. These tables are typically arranged in a compact manner to allow experienced players to see variations from a position quickly. Usually, the table indicates that either White or Black has equal, slightly better, or better chances at the end of the variation. Often, this information is distilled down to mere symbols ('Σ' for example) or the percentage of games (usually tournament games) where White won – no information is usually given on what the assessment is based on or how to proceed in the game.

Shortcomings[edit]

Chess opening theory books that provide these tables are usually quite large and difficult for beginners to use. Because the table entries typically do not include the themes or goals involved in a given line, beginners will either try to memorize the tables or simply drown in the detail. The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory aims to bridge this gap by providing this type of information at the end of each line.

Notation[edit]

Typically, each table has a heading indicating the moves required to reach the position for which the table provides an analysis. The example below is for the opening position, so no moves are shown in the heading. The first row provides the move numbers with subsequent rows representing different variations. Since the initial position is not always the opening position, these numbers will not always start at '1.' White half-moves are shown above black half-moves. Ellipses (...) represent moves that, for the variation, are identical to the variation above. Bold type indicates that another variation is considered elsewhere – usually in another table. A hyphen (-) or en dash (–) indicates that the variation transposes to a variation elsewhere. Transpositions are common in chess – a given position can often be reached by different move orders – even move orders with more or fewer moves. The table may also provide percentage of games won by white for each variation, based on the results of the games considered in creating the table.

Development[edit]

Chess openings are studied in great depth by serious players. 'Novelties', or new, previously unexplored variations are often discovered and played by professional players. These new lines can refute lines that were previously thought to be sound. The games that represent this discovery process are represented in these ever-changing and expanding tables. With the advent of computer databases, even the most casual player can explore an opening line deeply, looking for novelties to spring on their opponents.

Example[edit]

Chess Opening Theory And Practice

External sources of chess opening theory tables[edit]

Chess Opening Theory For Beginners

• John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher (1999), Nunn's Chess Openings. ISBN1-85744-221-0.
• Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn (1999), Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. ISBN0-8129-3084-3.
• Aleksandar Matanović, editor, Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, 5 volumes (Belgrade: Šahovski informator)

Chess Opening Theory Queen's Gambit