1. d4 d5 2. Bf4
Shown from White's side. ECO D00.
Opening guide · an opening for White
London System
The London System is a setup for White built on 1. d4 with an early Bf4, followed by e3, Nf3, c3 and Bd3. White plays the same solid structure against almost any defence, so there is little theory to learn. It is one of the most popular openings at club level for that reason.
- Games in our sample
- 98,431
- White wins
- 51.0%
- Draws
- 4.7%
- Black wins
- 44.3%
How the London System scores at each rating
Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.
| Rating | Games | Share | White wins | Draws | Black wins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 1000 | 6,287 | 2.8% | 53.5% | 4.2% | 42.3% | |
| 1000 to 1199 | 11,641 | 3.6% | 51.8% | 3.7% | 44.4% | |
| 1200 to 1399 | 17,000 | 3.6% | 52.2% | 3.7% | 44.0% | |
| 1400 to 1599 | 20,682 | 3.4% | 50.9% | 4.1% | 44.9% | |
| 1600 to 1799 | 19,838 | 3.1% | 50.4% | 4.7% | 45.0% | |
| 1800 to 1999 | 14,026 | 2.7% | 50.0% | 5.8% | 44.2% | |
| 2000 to 2199 | 6,369 | 2.4% | 49.3% | 7.0% | 43.8% | |
| 2200 and over | 2,588 | 2.3% | 49.1% | 10.9% | 40.0% | |
| All ratings | 98,431 | 3.1% | 51.0% | 4.7% | 44.3% |
Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. This opening is part of a wider family in the names data, so only its named lines with at least 200 games in the sample are counted. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).
Main lines
The named lines of the London System that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.
London System
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4
13,064 games · White 49.8% · draws 5.3% · Black 44.8%
Analyse this positionLondon System, with e6
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4
10,003 games · White 51.9% · draws 4.9% · Black 43.3%
Analyse this positionLondon System
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4
5,783 games · White 48.1% · draws 5.3% · Black 46.5%
Analyse this positionAccelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5
3,666 games · White 48.2% · draws 4.9% · Black 47.0%
Analyse this positionLondon System
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4
3,129 games · White 49.5% · draws 5.1% · Black 45.4%
Analyse this positionAccelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit Accepted
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. dxc5
355 games · White 44.5% · draws 4.8% · Black 50.7%
Analyse this position
Ideas for White
- Build the pyramid: pawns on d4, e3 and c3, the bishop on f4, knights on f3 and d2.
- A knight on e5, supported by the bishop on f4, is the usual way to start an attack.
Ideas for Black
- ...c5 and ...Qb6 hit the b2 pawn, which the bishop on f4 no longer defends.
- A king's fianchetto with ...g6 blunts a bishop on d3.
Questions
- What are the moves of the London System?
- 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4. In the ECO classification it is filed under D00.
- How does the London System score?
- In 98,431 games with it in our sample, White won 51.0%, 4.7% were drawn and Black won 44.3%.
- At which ratings is the London System played most?
- Among players rated 1000 to 1199 it is 3.6% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 2.3%, is among players rated 2200 and over.
- Which line of the London System is played most?
- Queen's Pawn Game: London System (1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4), with 13,064 games in our sample.