Chess opening · ECO A48
London System
The London System starts 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4. It ranks #157 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. d4White pushes the d-pawn two squares to d4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... Nf6Black develops the kingside knight to f6.
- 2. Nf3White develops the kingside knight to f3.
- 2... g6Black advances the g-pawn to g6.
- 3. Bf4White develops the dark-squared bishop to f4.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common Black moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Bg7 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | Bg7 100% | – | – |
| 1400–1599 | Bg7 93% | d6 7% | – |
| 1600–1799 | Bg7 84% | d6 13% | d5 3% |
| 1800–1999 | Bg7 87% | d6 7% | d5 6% |
| 2000 and up | Bg7 100% | – | – |
Related openings
Practice it against a human-like opponent.
BeaconChess opponents open from these same books, then play human-like moves for their level while the coach explains your moves in plain English. The first coached game is free.
Play a free coached game →Played this opening recently?
Paste the game into the free analyzer to find the moves that cost you, with each mistake explained. Three analyses are free, with no email or card.
Analyze a game free →