Stonewall attack

Hello,

If you are playing white and when you still haven't moved your light squared bishop and black has moved their bishop to F5 what should you do?

Thanks

g1 f3

You can put it on d3 and recapture with the c-pawn. This gives you some play on the c-file and helps you control e4. You may just want to  play 1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 d6 3.Bd3 and avoid this though.

I've never really messed with the stonewall *attack* but the stonewall *defense* has been in my repertoire since the beginning. I have two methods of dealing with the so-called London bishop.

You can also try the Nh4 stuff - forcing the exchange of knight for bishop, but you MUST NOT EVER DO THIS IF BLACK HAS PLAYED THE MOVE e6! This lesson was hard-won for me, so I'm passing it on - you need to be aware that the move ...e6 will protect the h4 square using the queen, and your knight can be the target of lots of horrible tactics. Don't be like Alison and get killed in this embarassing fashion. 

Thanks guys, been a huge help. Alison, could you explain your last post by a chess board if possible? Thanks

Sure, I mean this kind of thing: 

The Stonewall Attack is a mistake when played "pre-meditated".

There are only certain responses by Black where it's playable.  Otherwise, you need to take a different route depending on whether you opened 1.d4 or 1.f4

The rule of thumb is simple - If Black can play both Bf5 and Bd6, the Stonewall is a mistake.  Black must commit to ...e6 or ...g6 before it's playable.  Note that there are numerous move orders, including 2...Bf5, 2...c5, etc:

1.f4 d5 2.e3 (2.Nf3 is better) Nf6 3.d4? c5 4.c3 Bf5 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be2 (6.Bd3? Bxd3 7.Qxd3 Bd6 and Black is clearly better) Bd6 etc.

The same thing goes for the defense.  1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3, 4...d5 is a critical error, now 5.Bf4!, 6.e3, and 7.Bd3 is a clear advantage for White.  Better here is 4...Bb4!

Ok thanks everyone, I think I get it.