Easy Chess Opening for Beginners - London System

The Ideal London System Setup

The London System is the easiest and one of the most popular chess openings for beginner chess players. It is not played much at the top level in Grandmaster games but when it is, it's quite a show.

Here are the steps on how it is played by White:

1. It begins with White playing 1. d4. White controls the Center - an important theme in chess openings - and makes room for his dark-squared bishop which is currently sitting at home on c1.

2. You can then play 2. Bf4 thereby developing your Bishop and further putting pressure on e5 and thus controlling the center.

Warning: This doesn't work if Black plays 1. e5 - which is Englund Gambit, a completely different opening.

3. The move 3. e3 supports the f4 Bishop and makes room for the light-squared Bishop on f1.

4. In order to develop the Knight you play 4. Nf3 The initial London System has been reached.

5. By placing the Bishop on 5. d3, another piece has been developed. The King is now ready to castle short as the f1 and g1 squares are empty, owing to our previous moves.

6. The London System Set up has been reached and you are now in the Middlegame. You are now free to make plans as the game progresses. A good move is 6. c3 which supports and defends the center pawn on d4, in case it is captured.

There are a lot of moves which Black can play while we make the above moves, but the beauty of this opening is that we can be oblivious to their moves and go on about our business. Warning This move order only works if Black doesn't suddenly threaten/attack one of our pieces, in which case you have to deal with them.

Armed with this opening, you are now ready to get just a little bit of edge to your chess playing.

Good luck! 😀

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