NIKOLA SEDLAK

WINNING
with the
Modern London System

A complete opening repertoire

for White against 1.d4 d5

Chess
Evolution
Cover designer
Piotr Pielach

Cover photo
Big Ben photo by Ingram Image

Typesetting
Piotr Pielach ‹www.i-press.pl›

First edition 2016 by Chess Evolution

Winning with the Modern London System. A complete opening repertoire for White against 1.d4 d5
Copyright © 2016 Chess Evolution

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

KEY TO SYMBOLS 4

PREFACE 5

INTRODUCTION 9

THE NARROW PATH OF ADVERSITY: A BRIEF HISTORY 11

CHAPTER ONE — CARO-KANN POSITION 21

CHAPTER TWO — EARLY b6-c4 55

CHAPTER THREE — CLASICAL SET-UP WITHOUT e6 73

CHAPTER FOUR — CLASSICAL SET-UP WITH …e6 97

CHAPTER FIVE — EARLY …e6 143

CHAPTER SIX — SLAV SET-UP — 2...c6 AND SYMMETRY 2...f5 161

CHAPTER SEVEN — GRÜNFELD SET-UP 183

CHAPTER EIGHT — QUEEN’S GAMBIT SET-UP 193

CHAPTER NINE — CHIGORIN SET-UP AND 2...g4 201

CHAPTER TEN — TYPICAL ENDGAMES: LONDON SYSTEM 211

CONCLUSION 223
 KEY TO SYMBOLS

= Equality or equal chances

 White has a slight advantage
 Black has a slight advantage
 White is better
 Black is better
+- White has a decisive advantage
-+ Black has a decisive advantage
 unclear
 with compensation
 with counterplay
 with initiative
 with an attack
 with the idea
 only move

N novelty
! a good move
!! an excellent move
? a weak move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
+ check
# mate
 PREFACE

Every chess player is searching for a suitable opening repertoire through-

out his career. In this search the player is trying to find a playing style and
a position type that will suit his sensibility and character.

I was likewise looking for openings based on my playing style in which

I would feel free and comfortable while playing, without fear that I would
be caught in unfamiliar territory facing my opponent’s theoretical superi-
ority. I began my search in the earliest days, actually from my junior years
when I played 1.e4 as White, striving strictly for mainlines in which I was
achieving solid results.

However, over time, the computer world has conquered chess and I real-
ized that 1.e4 was too concrete for me. It was not allowing my playing style
to express itself and I was not reaching positions in which I could show
my true face. Also, I realized that 1.e4 couldn’t be played without thorough
computer analysis, and I must admit that I still prefer the approach of an
older generation; one which favours a chess book and a board in front of
them and which likes to hold pieces in their hands while working on the
development of their chess skills.

So, my opinion about 1.e4 slowly began to change. At the age of 22 I de-
cided to seriously focus on a study of 1.d4. However, I encountered one,
should I say, obstacle — and that was 1... d5! Just to mention that 1...f6
wasn’t a problem, because the positions arising weren’t symmetrical, while
1...d5 followed by the Slav Defence and the Queen’s Gambit was becoming
an ‘impenetrable fortress’ which could be credited largely to Grandmaster
Vladimir Kramnik.

I wish to emphasize that the problem for me at that time wasn’t being un-
able to find an advantage for White, because I think that if Black plays the
opening phase precisely White can’t reach an advantage in almost any
system (except when Black is using openings proven to be incorrect), but
the bigger issue was with the types of positions that were reached, which
didn’t allow me to be free and creative. Also, the arising positions were
6

deeply analysed by professional chess players with the help of very strong
computer programs.

Continuing to explore 1.d4 I got an idea to check what one of my favourite

players — Anthony Miles — had in his repertoire against 1...d5. Two games
that left a strong impression on me were Miles — Minasian, Ohrid 2001 and
Miles — Dominguez, Capablanca Memorial 2001. In those games Miles
played 2. f4, which is known as the “London System”.

Back then I didn’t know much about that system, and actually didn’t care
to know, because I saw mostly weaker players playing the “London System”
and it seemed to me that they were using it with the purpose of achieving
a draw. It was precisely that attitude I had beforehand that helped me un-
derstand that maybe a great number of other players also had the same at-
titude, that they were underestimating the system and that maybe it should
be analysed in greater detail and given a new meaning. I began to see that
it could also serve as a very strong psychological weapon if studied well.
The “London System” wasn’t played very often at the top level, it was rela-
tively unexplored and it was precisely those conclusions that showed me
that the effort should be made to thoroughly analyse this opening.

The move 2. f4 is pretty underestimated and is not considered serious

enough, but I think it’s completely natural and logical. White’s structure
is natural, with positions similar to those from Slav Defence and Stonewall
with reverse colours, but with the problem of the inactive bishop, the so
called “bad bishop” solved at the very beginning! By the way, I successfully
played both of those openings as Black. Having that experience with the
black pieces in mind, the study of the “London System” wasn’t a problem
for me because I was already well-acquainted with the ideas and types of
positions arising.

At the beginning of my exploration of this opening’s secrets I didn’t know if

adequate literature about this system existed, so I relied mainly on the da-
tabase, while I learned the most through my praxis and of course through
analysis of my own games. The games of Croatian Grandmaster Vlatko Ko-
vacevic were also a great influence on me. Help from my friends in analysis
of the system was also very useful, so I often exchanged experiences and
ideas with top Hungarian Grandmaster Ferenc Berkes, and I will take the
 PREFACE 7

liberty to say that it was a fruitful collaboration because I’m personally sat-
isfied with the results achieved using the studied material.

10 years after my first game in the “London System” — with more than 50
games played against many Grandmasters among others and with an over-
all performance over 2700 — I felt free and confident enough to distil my
experience into a book, its purpose being to serve as a guide for other play-
ers searching for an opening which they will play with pleasure. The ideas
and ways of treating these positions have changed over time, and I put an
emphasis on that which I currently consider to be best for White.

This is the reason why the book is called Winning with the Modern London
System. I have to mention that 1.d4 f6 2. f4 or 2.f3 with f4 are also
known as the London System. Personally, I’m not a fan of the London Sys-
tem against 1...f6, especially when Black arranges his pieces as he would
in the King’s Indian Defence. The position of the bishop on f4 seems ad-
equate to me only when black plays 1...d5, in which case it has a very im-
portant role to play, as opposed to when Black has the option of playing
….d6 when the London set-up seems less logical and I don’t believe in it.

So I chose to deal with the London System only against 1...d5 in this book!
 INTRODUCTION

In this book the London System opening is presented using all of the most
important games with thorough comments, through which the readers
will have the opportunity to understand the essence of this opening, which
in my opinion has a future ahead of it and a lot of space for growth and
development.

I would like to mention that the book comprises the most important parts
of this opening, and also the ideas reached through the experience of play-
ing games in tournaments, as well as the positions analysed in collabora-
tion with Grandmaster Ferenc Berkes. But there should always be room,
if a player chooses this opening, for some new interesting idea during the
game itself, because either side (both White and Black) can encounter
something new and unexplored in a relatively early phase of the game.
Therein lies the beauty of chess: creativity, freedom to mix things up, and
an abundance of possibilities and ideas for a game of high quality.

I’m certain that this book will be very helpful to most chess players in build-
ing a strong foundation in order to be able to use this opening in praxis.
At this point it’s important to say a few words about the move order. Many
players enter this system with 2.f3 and 3. f4. Positions reached after
2.f3 are usually identical to those with 2. f4, but that move order is ac-
tually less elastic and it narrows down White’s options. It is for this reason
that I am promoting the development of the bishop on the 2nd move as
the main move order. Those differences in options will be the most obvi-
ous in chapters 2 and 4.

In the process of writing this book the biggest problems for me arose from
the different move orders used in the analysed games. In order to avoid
confusing the readers, for each chapter there’s an introduction where the
correct move order can be seen clearly. I’m using this opportunity to point
out to readers that they definitely shouldn’t skip the introductions to the
chapters!
10

At the present moment the London System is becoming increasingly pop-

ular at the top level — even in ‘classical’ tournament games, although it’s
much more often seen in rapid. Currently the top players who use it most
frequently are American Grandmaster Gata Kamsky and Russian Grand-
master Boris Grachev, while other top players occasionally have it in their
repertoire, usually using it as a surprise weapon. Among them are Magnus
Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik and others. Also a great contribution to this
system came from the French Grandmaster Eric Prie, who plays it in a very
original and active manner.

One way or the other, what’s important are the facts which I obtained
through my study of the London System and which I will prove in this
book with a thorough analysis of games. I will show that this system is fully
deserving of your attention for analysing and playing, that it’s unjustly ne-
glected in comparison with other openings and also that it gives players
myriad interesting positions on the board, free and creative play, with lots
of space for further growth and improvement.
 THE NARROW PATH OF ADVERSITY:
A BRIEF HISTORY

Searching through the database, Variation”. He also wrote several

the first name I  found in connec- books on chess, and the most pop-
tion to this opening, and who ular were The Principles of Chess
played it with the white pieces, was Theory and Practice (1894), The Art
James Mason (19.11.1849–12.01.1905) of Chess (1895), Chess Openings
A great number of his games can be (1897) and Social Chess (1900).
found between 1876 and 1894. A lit-
tle is known about this “forgotten”
chess player from the xix century. J. Mason — J. M. Hanham [D02]
He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. USA–06.Congress New York (13), 1889
It’s interesting that he was adopted
as a child and that his real name is Th is game shows that chess clas-
in fact unknown. James Mason was sics are still very important nowa-
the name given to him by the family days, especially in the development
which adopted him and with which of young players who wrongly skips
he later moved to America in 1861. this part of chess, relying just on the
He was a writer and a journalist by assistance of computers. Over 130
profession, while chess was his hob- years ago Mason James was play-
by. James Mason left his first mark ing the London System using ideas
on the chess scene by winning the which are nowadays playable too,
American Chess Congress in Phil- even though we live in the time of
adelphia and also a  tournament strong engines!
in New York. During the time he
was actively playing he was one of 1.d4 d5 2. f4 f6 3.e3 e6 4. d3
the strongest players in the world, e7
behind the strongest — Wilhelm In the 19th century the Queens
Steinitz. He made a great contribu- Gambit was one of the main openings
tion to the development of theory against 1.d4 and Black is also aims for
and even the “London System” was that set-up here. Nowadays it is con-
previously known as the “Mason sidered a passive set-up for Black.
12 WINNING WITH THE MODERN LONDON SYSTEM

5.d2 b6 6.h3 6... b7 7.gf3 bd7 8.0–0 0–0

For Black 8...e4 is almost al-
8 rsnlwqk+ tr ways good, to close down the di-
7 zp zp vlpzpp agonal b1–h7! In the 19th century,
players learned and built theory on
6 zp +psn + their own mistakes, without books
5 + +p+ + and databases.
4 + zP vL +
3 + +LzP +P 9.e5 xe5
It also works here! 9...e4!
2 PzPPsN zPP+
1 tR +QmK sNR 10. xe5 e8?!
a b c d e f g h Black had no reason to play so
passively. Consistent was 10...c5
A limp move, but Mason wanted 11.c3 d6 12.f4 e4!= or the now
to preserve his Bishop. The mod- well-known 10...e4!
ern reaction would be 6.gf3
without fear of 6...h5 11.h5!

(6...b7 7.e5 bd7 8.f3! and 8 r+ wqntrk+

the square e4 is covered!) 7 zplzp vlpzpp
7. e5! and after 7...f6?
6 zp +p+ +
5 + +pvL +Q
(7...d7 8.g4  hf6 9.g5  h5 4 + zP + +
10.f1! with g3 next) 3 + +LzP +P
2 PzPPsN zPP+
8.g5!+- comes with an indefensi-
ble attack! 8...g6 9.xh7! f7 10.g4 1 tR + +RmK
g7 a b c d e f g h

(10...xh7 11.gxh5 xh5 12.g1 f5 A typical plan in the London Sys-

13.f3) tem also used nowadays by many
strong players. White is trying to
11. xf6!  xf6 12.f3 g5 13.h4 provoke weaknesses in Black’s po-
d7 14.0–0–0 e7 15.  xf6+ sition, especially around his king.
xf6 16.hxg5 d7 17.g3+- with
many threats such as f3-h4 or
f4-f5
 THE NARROW PATH OF ADVERSITY: A BRIEF HISTORY 13

11...g6 12.e2 f6 13.h2 f5 16. xf6 xf6 17.f3

Prevents e4, but makes a  weak
point on e5! 8 r+ wq +k+
7 zplzp + snp
14. e5! 6 zp +ptrp+
8 r+ wqntrk+ 5 + +p+p+
7 zplzp vl +p 4 + zP zP +
3 + +LzPN+P
6 zp +p+p+
5 + 2 PzPP+Q+P+
+pvLp+
4 + zP + + 1 tR + +RmK
3 + +LzP +P a b c d e f g h

2 PzPPsNQzPP+
After a series of inaccurate moves
1 tR + +RmK from Black, White is now position-
a b c d e f g h ally winning and all of Black’s piec-
es stand awkwardly.
A  nice positional move. Firstly
White puts his bishop on its most 17...a5 18.e5 f8 19.g3
active square and then continues The position has a closed charac-
with a typical kingside plan! ter so time is not a key factor, but
anyway I  don’t support wasting
14... f6?! time! It was better to play 19.g4
It was a bad idea to head for the immediately.
exchange of bishops after which the
dark squares will be permanently 19...e8
weak! Much better was 14...d6 Finally Black improves his
with …f7 next. knight’s position!

15.f4 g7? 20. f2 d6 21. g2 c5 22.c3 c4?

A very bad place for the knight. Another positional mistake! By
Much better and more natural was closing the center, White has a free
again 15...d6 hand on the kingside! In many open
tournaments, and also in my praxis,
I encountered this bad move from
low-rated players. Much better was
22...c8 with the idea being to ex-
change the bad bishop with …a6!
14 WINNING WITH THE MODERN LONDON SYSTEM

23. c2 c8 24.h2 c7 25.g4! 27... f8 28.e1!

White is careful! 28.h4? h5!=
8 + wq trk+ leads to a complete blockade!
7 +ltr + +p
28...b5 29.h4 f7 30.f3!
6 zp snp+p+
5 zp +psNp+ 8 + wq trk+
4 +pzP zPP+ 7 +l+ +ntrp
3 + zP zP +P 6 + +p+p+
2 PzPL+Q+RmK 5 zpp+p+pzP

1 tR + + + 4 +pzP zP zP
a b c d e f g h 3 + zP zPN+
2 PzPL+ +RmK
Finally, after lengthy preparation,
White obtains what he wanted. 1 + + wQ tR
a b c d e f g h
25... g7 26. ag1 f6 27.g5?
Of course! By exchanging knights
8 + wq +k+ White loses the chance to make
7 +l+ + trp a break-through!
6 zp snptrp+ 30... c6 31. d1 e8 32.h5 d6
5 zp +psNpzP 33. h1 gxh5?!
4 +pzP zP + Black loses patience! He should
3 + zP zP +P search for an escape with 33...
f7! 34.hxg6+ hxg6 35.e5+ e7
2 PzPL+Q+RmK
36.g3 f7 37. h7 fg8 and it’s
1 + + + tR not clear how to break into Black’s
a b c d e f g h position.

A very risky decision which could

have cost him a  half-point. Clos-
ing the position always brings the
risk of a complete blockade. I prefer
27.h4 f8 28.h3 with the idea of
h5
 THE NARROW PATH OF ADVERSITY: A BRIEF HISTORY 15

34.g1 e4?

8 +
wqltrk+ A. Rubinstein — S. Tartakower
7 + + + trp BCF Congress, London (13), 1922
6 + +p+ + In 1922, 17 years after James Ma-
5 zpp+p+pzPp
son’s death, a  very strong tourna-
4 +pzPnzP + ment called London bcf Congress
3 + zP zPN+ was played, and it was won convinc-
ingly by 3rd World Champion Jose
2 PzP + +R+ Raul Capablanca with score of 13
1 + +LwQ mKR points from 15 games without de-
a b c d e f g h feat, in front of other elite players
Alekhine, Vidmar, Rubinstein, Bo-
Pseudo-activity with the knight! goljubow, Reti, Tartakower, Maroc-
It is needed to help in defense, so zy, Euwe etc. In that tournament
34... g6 35.e5  f7 36.  xh5 the system with 1.d4 and f4 was
xe5 37.dxe5 b6 and a draw is used very often and after that this
not so far off ! opening was renamed from “Ma-
son Variation” to the “London Sys-
35.e5 h8 36. xh5+- tem”. In this game the famous top
Now nothing can save the black player from the beginning of the 20
monarch! century, Akiba Rubinstein, used for
that time a very original plan, where
36... fg8 37. xe8 xe8 38. h6 he destroys his own pawn structure
e7 39.h4 b4 40.cxb4 axb4 in order to achieve other plusses in
41. h2 c3 42.g6+! the position and nicely outplays his
Conclusion: Nowadays, almost fellow famous opponent Savielly
130 years later, White uses the same Tartakower!
plan on the kingside.
1–0
16 WINNING WITH THE MODERN LONDON SYSTEM

1.d4 f6 2.f3 d5 3. f4 e6 4.e3 8...bd7 was a  better option

d6 5.bd2!? with the idea being to exchange
one pair of knights, e.g. 9.b3 (9.b4
8 rsnlwqk+ tr b6 10.cxb6 axb6) 9...0–0 10. d3
7 zppzp +pzpp xc5 11.xc5 xc5 and the posi-
tion is about equal.
6 + vlpsn +
5 + +p+ + 9. d3 c6 10.c3
4 + zP vL + Preventing …b4 and creating
3 + + zPN+ a post for the knight on d4.
2 PzPPsN zPPzP 10...0–0 11.0–0 h6 12.b3 b6
1 tR +QmKL+R 13. e1
a b c d e f g h Black doesn’t have an active plan,
An interesting treatment of the while White is controlling all the
position. Allowing a partial destruc- important squares in the center.
tion of his pawn structure, White
takes greater control of the e5 square. 13... d7 14.e2 ae8?

5... xf4 6.exf4 c5 8 + +rtrk+

This is not a mistake, but I prefer 7 zpp+l+pzp
6...0–0 7. d3 b6 with the idea of …
a6 and later …c5. to have availa-
6 wqn+psn zp
5 + +p+ +
ble,. after dxc5, bxc5!
4 + + zP +
7.dxc5 c7 8.g3 xc5?! 3 +NzPL+NzP

2 PzP +QzP zP
8 rsnl+k+ tr
7 zpp+ +pzpp 1 tR + tR mK
6 + +psn + a b c d e f g h

5 + wqp+ + The wrong plan! Correct was 14...

4 + + zP + a5! with …a4 next, aiming to ex-
3 + + +NzP change one pair of knights.
2 PzPPsN zP zP 15.e5 xe5 16.fxe5 h7?
1 tR +QmKL+R Tartakower resorts to passive
a b c d e f g h play, which was not in his style!
 THE NARROW PATH OF ADVERSITY: A BRIEF HISTORY 17

More active was to offer a  pawn 8 + + tr mk

with 16...e4! 17.e3! 7 zpp+ltr zpn
(After 17.  xe4 dxe4 18.xe4
6 wq +p+ zp
c6 Black getting some hopes 5 + +pzPp+P
with active Bishop!) 4 + sN zP +
3 + zPL+ zP
Entering into the endgame where
2 PzP +Q+ +
Black lacks serious counterplay.
17...xe3 18. xe3 f5 19.exf6 gxf6! 1 tR + tR mK
a b c d e f g h
(19...xf6 20.ae1)

20.  xe4 dxe4 21.  xe4 e5 and 20... g8 21.f2?!

a pawn down in the endgame Black Rubinstein starts to lose the
can hope for salvation thanks to thread of the game! Now Black can
his active bishop. consolidate his position. The safest
move was 21.h1! f8 22. g1 e8
17.h4 f5 23. g2 d7 24. ag1 c5 25. b1
Black is more-or-less forced to and g4 is coming next move!
play this move.
For example 17...f6 18.c2 f5 21...f8!
19.d4 Now Black finds the nice knight
route via d7-c5-e4
18.d4 e7 19.f4
In this game, like in the previ- 22. h1 e8 23. ag1 d7 24.g4!?
ous, Black has a problem with his
“French bishop”. 8 + +l+rmk
7 zpp+ntr zp
19...h8 20.h5!
Black is left without counterplay
6 wq +p+ zp
5 + +pzPp+P
and White has enough time to pre-
pare the g4 break. 4 + sN zPP+
3 + zPL+ +
2 PzP +QmK +
1 + + + tRR
a b c d e f g h
18 WINNING WITH THE MODERN LONDON SYSTEM

White continues with his plan! with less than easy moves! 30...
Also interesting was the prophylac- e4+ 31.h3
tic 24.b4!? and although it looks like
a weakening and a very ‘responsible’ (31.  xe4? dxe4 32. e3  xf4
move, White would prevent coun- 33.xf4 xf4 34.xf4 c4)
terplay (with …c5) and after 24...
b8 25.e3 c6 26. c1 White has 31...g5+!
a small but long-term advantage.
8 + + tr mk
7 +p+ +rzp
24...c5 25. b1 fxg4 26.g3?!
An adventurous move, maybe 6 pwq +p+ zp
in time-trouble, but it doesn’t have 5 +l+pzP snP
a big negative effect on White’s hap- 4 + sN zPQ+
piness! 26.  xg4 was good enough 3 + zP +R+K
26...e4+ 27.g2 with the idea of 2 PzP + + tR
taking on e4 at some point. 1 +L+ + +
a b c d e f g h
26... f8 27. h2
A clever move! Freeing the queen 32.fxg5  xf3+ 33. xf3 e3
from defending the b2 pawn. 34.g3 hxg5 35.h6 g6 36. f2 f4
37.xe6  xf3+! 38.  xf3 g1+
27... ef7 28. f1 a6 29.xg4 b5 39.h3 h1
30. f3 f5??+-
31.xf5 exf5 32. xf5 xf5?
8 + + tr mk
7 +p+ + zp 8 + + + mk
6 pwq 7 +p+ + zp
+p+ zp
5 +lsnpzPr+P 6 pwq + + zp
5 +lsnpzPr+P
4 + sN zPQ+
3 + zP +RmK 4 + + zPQ+
2 PzP 3 + zP +RmK
+ + tR
2 PzP + + tR
1 +L+ + +
a b c d e f g h 1 + + + +
a b c d e f g h
A ‘panic’ move; now we can be sure
they were in time-trouble! Black Black misses his last practical
could still save the game, although chance. An interesting try was 32...
 THE NARROW PATH OF ADVERSITY: A BRIEF HISTORY 19

e4+!? after which White has to 35... xf3+ 36.xf3 b5 37.g2
find difficult moves 33.h4! Still White needs to be careful
not to blunder into some perpetual
(33.g2 e2; 33.h3  xf5! checks.
34.xf5 g1; 33.  xe4 dxe4
34.  ff2 e3+ 35.g2 d3 37...d3+ 38.g4 g5 39.f3
36.g6!) Now it’s over and the rest of game
just shows the fighting spirit of the
33...c5 34. xe4 dxe4 35.  ff2 e3 legendary Savielly!
36. fg2 f7 37.g3 d7 38. h1
d2 39. e1+- 39...b1 40.fxg5 hxg5 41.h6 g1+
42. g2 c5 43.f7 c8+ 44.e6
33.xf5 e4+ 34.g2 e2 g8 45.xg8+ xg8 46.f5
35.g6! 1–0
Being a double-exchange up, it is
not a bad idea to give back one to
simplify the position.