[Event "The Mighty London System!: London: A Draw!?"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/HM0m7zRB/W6a1zKBJ"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/george_mcgeorge"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Opening "Indian Defense"]
[UTCDate "2021.03.01"]
[UTCTime "19:03:44"]
[Variant "Standard"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 { Our usual London System set up, lets see what our opponent does... } 2... c5 { Our opponent strikes in the centre right from the beginning! But we do not have to worry, we can choose to play many different options } 3. e3 ( 3. Nf3 { With Nf3 we can also choose to set up some variations and we have not committed any pawn moves, but at the same time we are probably going to lose the d-pawn } 3... cxd4 4. Qxd4 { We can recapture the pawn with our Queen } ( 4. c3 { We can Gambit one pawn and develope our b1Knight [%cal Gb1c3] } 4... dxc3 5. Nxc3 d6 ) ( 4. Nxd4 { We do not take with the Knight! We are going to run into a fork and are going to lose a piece } 4... e5 { [%cal Re5d4,Re5f4] } 5. Bxe5 { [%cal Rd8a5,Ra5e1,Ra5e5] } 5... Qa5+ { [%csl Re5][%cal Ra5e1,Ra5e5] } ) 4... d6 ) ( 3. c3 { Although we maybe get the opportunity to play e4 and to have a nice pawn centre, Black has many counter chances, as such this line is not recommended } 3... Qb6 { [%csl Rd4][%cal Rb6b2,Rc5d4,Rb6c5] } ) ( 3. d5 { With 3.d5 we would be heading into a Benoni-Defence-esque position } ) 3... Qb6 { The opponents Queen is staring at our b2-pawn. We can defend the pawn with our Queen, but then we would lose the d-pawn } 4. Nc3 ( 4. Qc1 cxd4 5. exd4 Qxd4 6. Nf3 { As you can see, we would be down a pawn and the worst part of this is, that we have no real developement advantage - sure, our Bishop and our Knight are developed, but so is the enemys Knight and Queen } ) 4... Qxb2 { Well, we lost a pawn and our Knight is hanging, so: What is not to like? We have a plan and compensation! We will move our Knight to b5 and either settle for a draw or we fight on with a - small - advantage!! } ( 4... a6 { A very popular alternative, a6 keeps the Knight as well as the Bishop out [%csl Rb5][%cal Ra6b5] } 5. a3 { This move prevents the Queen from snatching that b2 pawn [%csl Ga3][%cal Ga2a3] } 5... d5 { Now we have a lot of tension in the center, but we can capture c5 with our pawn... [%csl Bd4,Bd5,Bc5] } ( 5... Qxb2 { ?? This is a huge mistake, that costs Black the Queen: } 6. Na4 { And as you can see, the a3 move we put in earlier now traps the Queen: Everything is protected nicely and Black loses the Queen - exchanging it for a Rook and an inferior - if not lost - position! [%csl Bb4,Bb3,Rb2,Yb6,Yb5][%cal Ba3b4,Bc2b3,Ra4b2,Gd1a1,Ya4b6,Yf1b5] } ) 6. dxc5 { to make Black's Queen move again, so that Black essentially loses a tempo! } 6... Qxc5 { [%csl Rc5][%cal Rb6c5,Rd8b6] } 7. Nf3 { We develop just as usual :) } ) 5. Nb5 { "Now we are cooking with gas!" You see, we are threatening the Rook in the corner and we have somewhat trapped the opponents Queen: Our Knight is defended by our light-squared Bishop and blocks the Queen from going back!üòé [%csl Gc7][%cal Gb5c7] } 5... Nd5 { Probably the best reply! We can choose, if we want a draw or if we want to push on.
But this variation is the most played one: 5...Na6 sadly for our opponent, Na6 is inferior. But we can be happy, if we see Na6!!! } ( 5... Na6 { For now, the opponents Knight is preventing us to fork the King and Rook, so we should try to capture the Queen [%csl Gc7][%cal Gc5d4,Ra6c7,Gb5c7] } 6. Rb1 { The Queen is forced to capture on a2 (but Qxb1, giving herself up for the Rook is a surprise, but a welcome oneüôÇ) } 6... Qxa2 ( 6... Qxb1 7. Qxb1 ) 7. Ra1 { Skewering the Queen and Knight. You see, if our opponent does not accept a draw, we will just simply "sacrifice" our exchange. If our opponent would be happy with a draw, we can choose: Do we play on for the win or take a draw! [%cal Ga1a6] } 7... Qb2 ( 7... Qe6 8. Rxa6 { The Eagle has landed!!! If our opponent would take the rook - regardless if with the pawn or Queen - we will just simply fork the King and Rook and Queen, and if he doess not take our rook we will simply have one pieve more! üòé } 8... bxa6 ( 8... Qxa6 9. Nc7+ { [%cal Rc7e8,Rc7a6,Rc7a8] } ) 9. Nc7+ { Most often than not, our opponent will just be down a piece and is going to seek compensation, but the only real compensation he has, is that we would be in a "we-are-winning-and do-not-need-to-care-about-our-opponents-moves" state of mind. Just keep calm and you will win this game.üòÉ [%cal Rc7e8,Rc7a8,Rc7e6] } ) 8. Rb1 Qa2 9. Ra1 ) 6. Rb1 Qxa2 7. Ra1 { Sometimes a draw is well enough! } 7... Qb2 8. Rb1 Qa2 9. Ra1 Qb2 *