Exercise 3.1Find the move
White to move
Black attacks b2 with the queen. Find White's best answer.
3
The London System · Kapilash Chess Academy
The Critical Test: ...c5 and ...Qb6
Defending b2 the London way
In this lesson you will learn
- Why ...♕b6 is the most dangerous idea against the London
- The answer 5.♕b3 and what happens after ...c4
- Why grabbing b2 often loses for Black
- The trap 6...♗f5? 7.♕xf5!
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3.1 The Problem: b2
Once White's bishop has left c1, the b2-pawn is defended only by the queen on d1 from far away. Black's most testing plan is ...c5 followed by ...♕b6, attacking b2 and d4 at the same time.
Diagram 3.1White to move
Example 3.1 · 5.♕b3
Black attacks b2. White's best answer offers a queen exchange.
5.♕b3 is the main move. After 5...c4 the queen steps back to c2, where it still guards b2 and eyes the kingside. Exchanging on b6 is also playable, but it opens the a-file for Black's rook. If Black exchanges queens on b3, White recaptures axb3 and gets the open a-file instead.
3.2 A Classic Trap
In the position after 6.♕c2, Black's most natural developing move is 6...♗f5, attacking the queen. It is a mistake.
Diagram 3.2White to move
Example 3.2 · 6...♗f5? 7.♕xf5!
Black has attacked White's queen. Can White take the bishop?
7.♕xf5! ♕xb2 looks like a disaster for White: the rook on a1 is attacked. But 8.♕xd5 brings the queen back into play, and after 8...♕xa1 9.♕b5 White threatens ♕xb7 and ♗xc4, while Black's queen is trapped in the corner and the black king is still in the centre. Engine analysis gives White a clear advantage.
LessonWhen your opponent's queen goes pawn-grabbing in the corner, count how long it will take to come back. Often your attack arrives first.
3.3 Early ...Qb6 and the Poisoned b2-pawn
Sometimes Black plays ...♕b6 even earlier, before ...♘c6. Then White has a sharp extra option: 4.♘c3!, offering the b2-pawn.
Diagram 3.3White to move
Example 3.3 · 4.♘c3! ♕xb2?
Black has taken the pawn on b2. Now the d5-pawn is weak and c7 is a target.
5.♘xd5! wins material by force: the knight threatens ♘c7+, forking king and rook, and ♖b1 traps Black's queen. 5.♘b5 is the well-known trap idea with the same threat on c7, but the knight capture is even stronger. With the pawn still on d7 instead of d5 (after 1...♘f6 2.♗f4 c5 3.e3 ♕b6 4.♘c3 ♕xb2 5.♘b5) the position is unclear and the game can end in a repetition, so the trick works best against ...d5.
Remember
- ...c5 and ...♕b6 attacks b2 and d4 — the main test of the London.
- Answer ...♕b6 with ♕b3; after ...c4 retreat to ♕c2.
- After 6.♕c2 ♗f5?, 7.♕xf5! ♕xb2 8.♕xd5 gives White a clear advantage.
- Against an early ...♕b6 with ...d5, 4.♘c3! and ♕xb2? is met by ♘xd5.
Exercises · Lesson 3
Each exercise comes from a real London position. Find the best move, then play it on the board.
Exercise 3.2Find the move
White to move
Black attacks the queen with ...♗f5. Find the strongest reply.
Exercise 3.3Find the move
White to move
Black has grabbed b2. Punish it.
Exercise 3.4Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♕xb2. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.5Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♕xb1. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.6Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♘a5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.7Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...e5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.8Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♘h5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.9Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♗d6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.10Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...f6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.11Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♘d5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.12Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♘e4. How does White punish it?
Exercise 3.13Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♘a5. How does White punish it?