No London System in Modern Chess Openings??

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Sample_Text47

I've purchased the latest edition of "Modern Chess Openings," and I unfortunately cannot find any section regarding the London System. I would like to know the best lines to counter it with the black pieces. Am I a stupid and is it actually buried in there under a different name? (I looked in the index and the only mention of the London was as a defense against the Reti- not exactly what I'm looking for) If not, then I have two questions.

First, why isn't it? I know that it is still played by top GM's like Firouzja in classical, so it has to be at least pretty good theoretically, I'd imagine. For players around my level, the London is like at least half of d4 games, so omitting that seems like a big oversight, even if it wasn't that great, just so you could see how to counter it.

Second, where can I find some (preferrably free) resources on fighting the London System? I generally play Indian defences, and I know a bit of theory from the book for a Nimzo-Indian or a QGD by transposition, but against the London, I usually just play a King's Indian and then start making stuff up. Ideally, I'd like to have a more concrete plan against 2. Bf4

notmtwain
Sample_Text47 wrote:

I've purchased the latest edition of "Modern Chess Openings," and I unfortunately cannot find any section regarding the London System. I would like to know the best lines to counter it with the black pieces. Am I a stupid and is it actually buried in there under a different name? (I looked in the index and the only mention of the London was as a defense against the Reti- not exactly what I'm looking for) If not, then I have two questions.

First, why isn't it? I know that it is still played by top GM's like Firouzja in classical, so it has to be at least pretty good theoretically, I'd imagine. For players around my level, the London is like at least half of d4 games, so omitting that seems like a big oversight, even if it wasn't that great, just so you could see how to counter it.

Second, where can I find some (preferrably free) resources on fighting the London System? I generally play Indian defences, and I know a bit of theory from the book for a Nimzo-Indian or a QGD by transposition, but against the London, I usually just play a King's Indian and then start making stuff up. Ideally, I'd like to have a more concrete plan against 2. Bf4

It would be in other Queen's pawn openings.

Sample_Text47

Where specifically? I can't find it.

KineticPawn

Funny enough in Silman's Complete Book of Chess Strategy he  list a bunch of common openings in alphabetical order. Silman put the London System in the B's section as Boring, lol

 

WCPetrosian

In MCO 15 it is column 81 on page 626 (along with a few notes/lines attached to that column).  It is not listed there as 2 Bf4 though, it is 1 d4 2 Nf3 3 Bf4. MCO 15 was published in 2008, at one time 2 Nf3 3 Bf4 was the usual way the London System was played. Eventually London System players became aware that by delaying Nf3 white could use the tempo to better address black's quick attacks on the queenside. The very good book Win With The London System was published in 2005 and is about playing 2 Bf4, but apparently the adjustment didn't make it into MCO 15. 

king5minblitz119147

basically if you have the nimzo as your main repertoire, then you have to play the e6 lines against the london. no pointt in learning the c5 lines without an early e6.

of the many subvariations of the e6 lines, i prefer bd6 as it cuts down what you have to learn. maybe someone could argue c5 sub lines are sharper. i will stick to my choice.

mostlyalive

I'm also interested in learning defenses to the London.  At my low (learning) level I'm mostly playing the bots here and watching the lessons.  Is there a bot that will play the London as white (I'm sure this too much to ask for)?  Any other ways to get computer games against the London?  I'm thinking there may be a way to set a position and have the computer play it out.?

mostlyalive

I apologize for the newbie question...I already found that you can use analysis to set a position and play. 

Zinester54

Chessable has a free course that I like called something like "Agadmator's system against the London" that's all about playing the Benoni against the London system.

king5minblitz119147

what i don't like about it is you have to know beforehand that the opponent will play the london and not a mainstream d4 line, or you have to pick up the benoni entirely, which is not great for starting out.

XDS_525

so its not in the book i cant find it either