Exercise 8.1Find the move
White to move
Prepare the central break against the Dutch.
8
The London System · Kapilash Chess Academy
Queen's Indian Setups and the Dutch
...b6 and ...f5
In this lesson you will learn
- How to set up against ...e6, ...b6 and ...♗b7
- Why h3 and ♗d3 work well against a fianchetto on b7
- Meeting the Dutch with ♗f4, e3 and ♘f3
- The e4 break against the Dutch
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.
8.1 Against ...b6 and ...Bb7
Diagram 8.1Black to move
Example 8.1 · The Queen's Indian setup
White plays h3 to keep the bishop and to stop ...♘h5 or ...♗b4–...♘h5 ideas.
Black's bishop on b7 aims at e4, so White's plans revolve around the e4 break: ♘bd2, ♕e2 and e4. With the bishop on d3 and the knight on d2, e4 is well supported. h3 keeps the f4-bishop safe.
8.2 The Dutch: 1...f5
Diagram 8.2Black to move
Example 8.2 · London against the Dutch
Against the Dutch, the London setup works very well. The bishop on f4 controls e5.
White's main plan is the break e4. With the queen on e2, the knight on d2 and the bishop on d3, all three support e4. When the e-file opens, Black's pawn on e6 and the weakened king can become targets.
LessonAgainst the Dutch, aim at e4 and e5. Black's ...f5 weakens e6 and e5, and your pieces are already pointing at those squares.
Remember
- Against ...b6 and ...♗b7, play h3, ♗d3 and prepare e4.
- Against the Dutch, the bishop on f4 controls e5 and the e4 break is White's main plan.
- ♕e2 and ♘bd2 support e4.
Exercises · Lesson 8
Each exercise comes from a real London position. Find the best move, then play it on the board.
Exercise 8.2Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♗d6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.3Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♗d6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.4Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♗d6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.5Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♗d6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.6Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♗a6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.7Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♗d6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.8Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...♘d5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.9Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...cxd4. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.10Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♘b5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 8.11Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 11...♗d6. How does White punish it?