Exercise 9.1Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 13...bxc5. How does White punish it?
9
The London System · Kapilash Chess Academy
Middlegame Plans: the Kingside Attack
Ne5, Qf3, Qh5 and the Greek gift
In this lesson you will learn
- How the knight on e5 and the queen build a kingside attack
- Why Black must be careful with ...♘f6 moving away
- The bishop sacrifice on h7 in London positions
- How to bring the rook into the attack
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
9.1 Building the Attack
With the knight on e5, the bishop on d3 and the bishop on g3 or f4, White's pieces point at Black's king. The queen joins via f3 or h5, and the rook can swing over via f1–f3–h3.
Diagram 9.1Black to move
Example 9.1 · Queen to f3
White's queen joins the attack.
White does not rush. After ...♘f5 the bishop steps back to f2 to keep the structure, and White prepares g4 or ♖g1 and g4 to drive away the defender. The plan is slow but very strong, because Black has no counterplay in the centre.
9.2 The Greek Gift
When Black's knight leaves f6 and the h7-pawn is defended only by the king, look for ♗xh7+. The bishop on d3 is already aiming at h7. You learned the checklist in Attacking the King: a knight that can reach g5, a queen that can reach h5, and no black defender of h7.
LessonIn the London, the bishop on d3 and the knight on e5 or f3 are a permanent threat to h7. Every time Black's knight leaves f6, ask: does ♗xh7+ work now?
Remember
- ♘e5, f4 and ♕f3 or ♕h5 is the standard attacking setup.
- The bishop on d3 aims at h7; check ♗xh7+ whenever the knight leaves f6.
- Bring the rook via f3 to h3 or g3.
Exercises · Lesson 9
Each exercise comes from a real London position. Find the best move, then play it on the board.
Exercise 9.2Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...cxd4. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.3Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♘xe5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.4Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♘h5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.5Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...♘h5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.6Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 14...♗a6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.7Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...♗c6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.8Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...♗a6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.9Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...♘g4. How does White punish it?
Exercise 9.10Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 12...♗a6. How does White punish it?