0

Chess London Opening - boring and non-offensive

2023-11-29
wooden chess set

Nemec from Russia:

Why has the London become so popular lately? Mostly because top players have employed it on a regular basis. Although it is not a good opening, it is definitely a practical choice, due to the following:

White’s scheme of development is easy and standard - Black has to be more creative and know more
Due to the point above, it is a good choice for blitz games, because Black has less time to figure things out
It allows top players to avoid the opening theory and just play chess
Until recently, Black players underestimated it. Nobody studied it thoroughly
I have yet to meet a player who likes playing against it. Black players hate it and consider it boring

Gavrial from London:

SCOPE - What is OUTSIDE of the Scope of the London System

As many good degree or higher-level research projects are often introduced with - is what is NOT covered. The London system is NOT in the following criteria:

  1. NOT An ultra-sharp variation to gain a big advantage. This is not such a big downside because most players don’t like having to learn a tonne of opening theory in the process at the expense of their middlegame and endgame training time.
  2. NOT Risk using a trap system that gives a poor position if the trap is not fallen into.
  3. NOT To play an unsound opening which creates too many weaknesses but might give a temporary flux of piece activity
  4. NOT play an opening that block’s bishops. The London system bishops are well treated!
  5. NOT To play an opening that makes it quite easy for the King to be attacked.

A Default “Safety Opening”

In the past, it was also my “default safety opening”. Say I had lost a game or two in a tournament and really “Wanted a solid opening” with minimal risk of Losing, I felt that the London system was a great default choice to fall back into. This seems to be a shared cultural feeling about this opening. Possibly there is something also symbolic which falls outside the consciousness of many players using it - and that is the formation of the pawn triangle. This usually in other structures in real life is the most reliable and solid. So maybe this is psychologically a part of its popularity.

 

Related News