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Vol.15 Ch.1: London System: Classical Pyramid (D02) · Vol.15 Ch.2: Jobava London System (Rapport–Jobava · D01) · Vol.15 Ch.3: Torre Attack: Classical Pin System (A46) · Vol.15 Ch.4: Colle System & Colle–Zukertort (D04)

Jobava London System (Rapport–Jobava · D01)

ECO D01 · Vol.15 · Ch.2 · 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4

EPD: rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3p4/3P1B2/2N5/PPP1PPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - · Eval +0.15

Popularized by creative grandmasters Baadur Jobava and Richard Rapport, the Jobava London System (D01: 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4) swaps the Classical London's quiet c3-wall for immediate tactical venom. With Nc3 and Bf4 converging on the c7-pawn and controlling e4, White threatens disruptive Nb5 leaps while keeping queenside castling and kingside pawn storms in reserve.

Pairing Nc3 with Bf4 aims two pieces directly at c7—any careless Black move that forgets ...a6 or ...c6 invites an immediate Nb5! fork threat.

Historical Origins & Pawn-Structure DNA

1922 London International Congress, Edgard Colle & Carlos Torre · c3–d4–e3 Pyramid & Uncontested Dark-Square f4/g5 Control · Edgard Colle, Carlos Torre, Gata Kamsky, Magnus Carlsen, Ding Liren

Popularized at the 1922 London tournament and by Carlos Torre's famous 1925 'windmill' victory over Emanuel Lasker, the London System underwent a massive 21st-century renaissance led by Magnus Carlsen, Gata Kamsky, and Ding Liren.

White's dark-squared bishop escapes to f4 or g5 before e3 locks the chain, anchoring absolute control over the e5 outpost; Black's sharpest counterplay targets the vacated b2 pawn immediately via ...c5 and ...Qb6.

White's Strategic Blueprint

  • Punish careless moves like 3...Bf5?! or 3...g6?! with 4. Nb5! (or 4. e3 followed by Nb5), forcing awkward concessions around the c7-square.
  • Play e3 and f3 (or Qd2 + O-O-O) to build an elastic attacking shell capable of launching g4 and h4 against a castled Black king.
  • Against 3...e6 4. e3 Bb4, tuck the king's knight nicely onto e2 via Nge2 and a3 so White keeps fluid central control without doubled pawns.

Black's Counterplay & Breaks

  • Neutralize the c7-threat cleanly with 3...a6! or 3...c6, taking away b5 before developing ...Bf5 and ...e6 harmoniously.
  • Strike back in the center immediately with 3...c5! 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 a6 (or 4...Nc6 5. Nb5 Qa5+!), turning White's Nb5 raid against them.
  • Play 3...e6 followed by ...Bd6 (or ...Bb4 pinning Nc3) to trade off White's active dark-squared bishop and equalize effortlessly.

Common Club Traps & Mistakes

  • Playing 3...Bf5?! routinely allows 4. f3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. h4! or an immediate 4. Nb5 Na6, leaving Black cramped on the queenside from move four.
  • As White, jumping 3...c5 4. Nb5?! prematurely walks into 4...Qa5+! 5. Nc3 Ne4, where Black seizes the initiative and hammers c3.

Canonical ECO Sub-Variations

  • D01 Richter-Veresov Attack: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 (rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3p2B1/3P4/2N5/PPP1PPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq -)
  • D00 Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System, Steinitz Countergambit: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 (rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/8/2pp4/3P1B2/8/PPP1PPPP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq c6)
  • D01 Richter-Veresov Attack: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 (rn1qkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3p1bB1/3P4/2N5/PPP1PPPP/R2QKBNR w KQkq -)
  • D01 Rapport-Jobava System: 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 (rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3p4/3P1B2/2N5/PPP1PPPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq -)
  • D01 Richter-Veresov Attack: Two Knights System: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Nbd7 4. Nf3 (r1bqkb1r/pppnpppp/5n2/3p2B1/3P4/2N2N2/PPP1PPPP/R2QKB1R b KQkq -)
  • A80 Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov Attack, Dutch System: 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 (rnbqkbnr/ppp1p1pp/8/3p1p2/3P4/2N5/PPP1PPPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq d6)

FAQ

Why does White block their own c-pawn with 2. Nc3 in a d4 opening?

Instead of attacking d5 with c4, 2. Nc3 teams with 3. Bf4 against c7, supports a future f3 + e4 central break, and clears the back rank quickly for Qd2 and O-O-O.

When is Nb5 actually winning for White, and when is it a trap for Black?

Nb5 is devastating when Black's queen is blocked from a5 (for example after 3...Bf5 or 3...e6 without ...a6/...c6/...Bd6), whereas after 3...c5!, ...Qa5+ unpins and refutes an immediate Nb5.

How is the Jobava London related to the Richter–Veresov Attack (3. Bg5)?

Both begin 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6—the Veresov pins f6 with 3. Bg5 to force e4, while Jobava's 3. Bf4 hits c7 and preserves dark-square control around e5.

Grandmasters Who Weaponized This Technique

D02 · London System: Classical Pyramid (D02) · A46 · Torre Attack: Classical Pin System (A46) · D04 · Colle System & Colle–Zukertort (D04) · Vančura Position: Lateral 6th-Rank Defense