London System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.e3
Most popular by a long margin in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database is 4.Bg3, but Stockfish17 and Dragon1 fluctuate between the text and 4.Bxd6.
4...Nf6
The main line in Mega25 runs 4...Bxf4 5.exf4 Qd6 6.Qd2 Nf6, when the engines reckon 7.Nc3 gives White a slight edge.
5.Nbd2 b6 6.c3 0-0 7.Ne5!? c5 8.Bd3
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| How should Black proceed? |
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8...c4?!
There are positions where ...c4 with tempo is good, and positions where ...c4 with tempo is frowned on as a club-player's move. Here the latter would seem the correct verdict - at least the move is strongly disliked by the engines. They favour the most popular move in Mega25, 8...Ba6, and 8...Qc7.
9.Bc2 Bb7 10.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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The main difference between the two sides, in my opinion, is that White it is much better placed than Black for play on the kingside, particularly when the respective light-square bishops are compared. The engines give White the upper hand.
10...b5 11.Qf3!
The engines agree this is better than 11.Bg5, and much better than 11.Ndf3.
11...Nc6 12.Qg3
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 12.Qh3.
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| What is White's main threat, and how should it be met? |
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If it were White to move, 13.Bh6 would give an advantage, although Black avoids losing material by replying 13...Ne8. Instead 13.Nxc6! wins a piece, eg 13...Bxf4 14.Nxd8 Bxg3 15.Nxb7.
12...Ne7?!
I rejected 12...Nh5 because of 13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.Qh3 g6 15.g4, but the engines claim 15...Nxe5 equalises, eg 16.dxe5 f5! 17.gxh5? g5! 18.Qg2!? Rg8 19.Bg3 Bc5, after which Black is a pawn down but has a strong kingside attack. Better is 17.exd6 fxg4 18.Qxg4, but after 18...Nxf4 19.exf4 Qxd6 Black is at least equal, according to the engines.
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| What should White play? |
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13.Qf3
13.Nxf7! wins a pawn, eg 13...Rxf7 14.Bxd6 Nf5 15.Bxf5, or 13...Bxf4 14.Nxd8 Bxg3 15.Nxb7.
13...Qc7 14.Qh3
FW offered a draw.
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| How would you assess this middlegame? |
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White's kingside attacking chances give at least the upper hand, according to the engines.
14...Ng6?
The engines reckon only 14...h6 prevents White gaining a winning advantage.
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| White to play and snaffle two pawns |
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15.Nxg6?!
White is slightly better after this, but winning is 15.Bxg6! hxg6 16.Nxg6! fxg6 17.Qxe6+ etc.
15...hxg6 16.Bxd6
Not 16.Bxg6??, trying to enter the line in the previous note, as Black has the simple reply16...Bxf4.
16...Qxd6 17.Nf3 Nh7?
Preventing 18.Ng5, but that was hardly much of a threat as the f6 knight covers h7. Better is using the respite Black has gained from White's kingside pressure to get on with counterplay on the queenside by playing 17...b4.
18.Qg4
The engines reckon 18.Ne5 is even stronger, the idea being to follow up with f4 and g4.
18...Qe7?!
Again the engines prefer ...b4.
19.h4 a5
The engines suggest ...Nf6, either immediately or after ...Bc6.
20.h5!? Nf6
The engines recommend sacrificing a pawn, at least temporarily, by 20...f5!? 21.Qxg6 Rf6 22.Qg3 Rh6, albeit giving White the upper hand.
21.Qg5
Possibly even stronger is the engines' 21.Qh4 gxh5 22.g4.
21...gxh5 22.g3?!
Probably too slow. The engines like 22.Ne5 or 22.g4.
22...Rfe8 23.Kg2 Ne4?
Correct is 23...g6, and if 24.Rh1, then 24...Ne4, while 24.Qh6? Ng4 leaves Black on top, according to the engines.
24.Qxh5
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| White has regained the sacrificed pawn, and has a strong attack |
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24...g6 25.Qh6 Qf8 26.Qh4 Kg7??
Black should probably try 26...Qg7 or 26...f6, or even 26...Qe7, hoping for a draw by repetition after 27.Qh6 Qf8, but Black can avoid this with 28.Qh3. The text leaves Black in a hopeless position.
27.Rh1 Qh8 28.Qf4 Qg8 29.Bxe4 dxe4 30.Qh6+ Kf6 31.Qg5+ Kg7
Now 32.Ne5, threatening 33.Nd7, followed by 34.Qf6#, and 33.Rh6, followed by 33.Rxg6+!, is so strong that the engines' top choice is offering the bishop by 33...Bc6!?
Instead the game finished:
32.Qh6+ Kf6 ½–½
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