Your best chance is to play the caro kann with 1..c6, which often gives similar piece placement in the form of Bf5/e6/c6/nf6/nbd7
That said, if you are looking to seriously improved, trying to get londonish positions every game is a bad idea as you do not expose yourself to a wide range of potentially instructive positions.
Understood and acknowledged. I appreciate your time, Godlike.
Caro for e4, slav d4. But ya, playing the London everytime is going to hurt you in the long run
I've found a couple of "non-Londonish" options. Again, thanks for your time.
You can get a similar pawn structure with 1...c6 but you won't be able to play the same way you do with the White pieces.
Try things like cambridge springs, meran variation etc. And off course the Bf5 caro kahn/slav line.
Hey, what did you end up with? I'm also looking for ideas for black.
So, Google directed me to this tread, and I decided to try some necromancy to see if people had anything of interest to say on this topic. The problem is that you're a move too slow with your white bishop, if I understand correctly.
#12
The London originated as a reverse opening of a black defence to 1 Nf3
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102115
Indeed Caro-Kann 1 e4 c6 and Slav Defence 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 come closest to the ideas of the London.
#12
The London originated as a reverse opening of a black defence to 1 Nf3
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102115
Indeed Caro-Kann 1 e4 c6 and Slav Defence 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 come closest to the ideas of the London.
Yes, this is a nice example. It's quite playable if white starts out a little passively.
You can't really play it against most openings but you can definitely play it against the Nimzo-Larsen. By move 5 when you finish the triangle, the computer has black with a slight advantage with best play. Just remember to play Nf6 before moving out your dark square bishop or you'll have regrets.
You can't really play it against most openings but you can definitely play it against the Nimzo-Larsen. By move 5 when you finish the triangle, the computer has black with a slight advantage with best play. Just remember to play Nf6 before moving out your dark square bishop or you'll have regrets.
Yes. The bishop/tempo issue is why it's not a system as black. Thanks for the confirmation. I am going to experiment and keep using it where possible.
Hello. I'm 34 and I have been playing chess for six months. As white I have had the most success with the London System and it is the opening I am most comfortable playing. As black I like to play the London System With Colors Reversed whenever possible. Is there a way that I could transpose into the London System With Colors Reversed if my opponent opens with 1) e4?
No.
Play a Black London if your opponent play hypermodern: 1.Nf3, 1.b3, 1.g3
And yes, the CM is right, of course - against e4 you play a Caro Kann. But then you need to learn an opening - with all that come with it. and yet - it's your pet London, and the most solid defense against e4, life are just full of tough choices..
I think that if you play a Caro Kann, and White chooses a variation, (ther are about 4 of them, or 6), then you choose a sub-variation - not the most popular one. and then it's always Your comfort-zone, and not his, and you only need to know 4-6 'Caro Kanns'. Good luck!
You can't really play it against most openings but you can definitely play it against the Nimzo-Larsen.
Why 5...c6? The d5 square needs no extra protection at this point.
Believe it or not, it's the #1 suggested move by Stockfish. Generally, you can play Bb4 to induce a weakness (and then usually retreat it to d6) and you open up the queen's path to the a-file. You can play c5 instead, but I prefer to keep white's dark square bishop sad. It's largely psychological because a lot of Nimzo-Larsen players rely upon the dark square bishop and if you can keep it out of the game you're making them play a game they don't want to play.
I’m not saying that the position is winning for black, but black’s game is very comfortable. Your pieces are coordinated and both queenside and kingside attacks are possible. Plus, don’t downplay the fact that it’s very disruptive to the plans of many Nimzo-Larsen players go for. With best play white is equal, but they have to be moves that they usually don’t like to make. For instance, if you retreat the bishop to d6, white’s best move in some positions is often to try to trade it off with Ba3, but I have never seen an N-L player willingly part with that bishop.
Edit: to be fair, though, you're an IM and I stink. The opponents you face are much more likely to be adaptive to the needs of the position than the players that I face, who are much more likely to stick with their usual plans even if they aren't the best.
Hello. I'm 34 and I have been playing chess for six months. As white I have had the most success with the London System and it is the opening I am most comfortable playing. As black I like to play the London System With Colors Reversed whenever possible. Is there a way that I could transpose into the London System With Colors Reversed if my opponent opens with 1) e4?