[Event "London System Repertoire: London vs d5 e6 Part 1"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/2EaSmZtz/wnSlQzQd"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/davidharoldchess"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System"]
[UTCDate "2018.05.19"]
[UTCTime "02:58:35"]
[Variant "Standard"]

{ Carlsen - Caruana } 1. d4 d5 ( 1... Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 d5 ) ( 1... e6 2. Bf4 d5 ( 2... Nf6 3. e3 d5 ) 3. e3 Nf6 ) 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 { A typical setup for black with pawns on d5 and e6 and the knight on f6. I actually really like playing against this as the e5 square is now perfect for white's knight and the e6 pawn gets rid of any Bf5 ideas. The position can also be reached by a number of other move orders. } 4. Nf3 { Since Bf5 won't happen here, Nf3 is perfectly fine. } 4... c5 { This position comes from a game between Carlsen (white) and Caruana (black) - masters do actually play this stuff! c5 is a common (and good) way for black to counter the London System. } 5. c3 { Again, forming the pawn pyramid. [%csl Gb2,Gc3,Gd4,Ge3,Gf2] } 5... Nc6 { Developing the knight. This also defends the e5 square. However, this isn't necessarily a problem for white - often white will swap a pair of knights on the e5 square before rerouting the other knight to e5 square via Nd2, Nf3 and Ne5. } ( 5... Bd6 { Another common idea from black. White certainly doesn't want to swap the bishop on f4 (this would break the pawn pyramid) but swapping on d6 isn't great either. Instead white should generally play Bg3 in these kind of positions. } 6. Bg3 Bxg3 7. hxg3 { For the swapping of bishops, white has now opened the h-file. Also, white still has a light squared bishop outside of the pawn chain which can easily be developed to a number of good squares: d3, e2 or even b5, while black's light-squared bishop will only be able to access the a4-e8 diagonal. [%csl Rh7,Bc8][%cal Gf1d3,Gf1e2,Gf1b5,Rh1h7] } ) 6. Nbd2 { Putting the knight on its usual square. It's also useful to have this move to prevent opponents from playing the annoying anti-London Ne4, where after Nd2 they can play Nxd2 Qxd2 (this isn't necessarily bad but if you like having familiar positions out of the opening it's probably not for you). } 6... Bd6 { Here's that Bd6 move discussed earlier. } 7. Bg3 { Carlsen avoids a bishop exchange on f4 or d6 and dares black to exchange on g3, which would open up the h-file. In general Bg3 should almost always be played as the reply to Bd6. } 7... O-O { Caruana doesn't want to trade here. However many players will jump at the chance to give white doubled pawns, ignoring the access it gives white to the h-file. } ( 7... Bxg3 8. hxg3 { So many good attacking ideas for white, especially if black castles. [%csl Rh7,Rf7][%cal Rh1h7,Rf3g5,Gd2f3,Rd1h5,Gf1d3,Rd3h7,Gd1c2] } ) 8. Bb5 { The usual move is Bd3, but Carlsen shows that Bb5 is playable too. } ( 8. Bd3 c4 $6 { Looks scary, but in reality c4 is often a weakening move. Since black is locking in the pawn chain, white will attempt to play for dynamics. This occurs primarily through the pawn breaks of b3 and/or e4. [%csl Rc4,Rd5,Re4,Rb3][%cal Gd3e2,Rb2b3,Rb3c4,Re3e4,Re4d5,Gd3c2] } 9. Be2 { One thing to keep in mind if you are playing for the pawn breaks is that castling queenside can be quite dangerous in these lines, no matter how tempting the open h-file looks! Castling kingside is generally the way to go. [%cal Ge1g1] } ) 8... Bxg3 9. hxg3 { Now Caruana takes. Again, this opens the h-file for white. } 9... Qb6 { Attacking the bishop. [%csl Rb5,Gc6][%cal Rb6b5,Gb6c6] } 10. a4 h6 { Defending from any possible Ng5 incursions, as well as attacks along the h-file. } ( 10... a6 { Spending a move to chase the bishop isn't a good idea. } 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qc2 { Defending the b2 pawn. } 12... Rb8 { [%csl Rb2][%cal Rb8b2] } 13. Rb1 h6 14. b4 cxb4 15. cxb4 $16 { Now everything is defended. White has an edge here. } ) 11. O-O { Castling kingside. Although the open h-file may look worrying for white, black can't easily get their major pieces over to the kingside. Also the second g-pawn could prove useful for initiating a kingside attack. } 11... Ne7 12. Qb3 Qc7 13. a5 Bd7 14. Be2 Ng6 { Black delays releasing the tension. [%csl Rc5][%cal Rc5c4,Rc5d4] } 15. Qa3 c4 { Caruana releases the tension. Later on, this will allow for white counterattacks via b3 and e4. [%csl Rc4,Rd5][%cal Gb2b3,Ge3e4,Rb3c4,Re4d5] } 16. b3 cxb3 17. Nxb3 Ne4 { Later the e4 break will be played. White is in a good position out of the opening. } ( 17... Qxc3 $4 18. Rfc1 { The queen is now trapped. } ) *