Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System

About this variation

White plays 2. Bf4 straight away, before Nf3. It is the more common London move order in master games because it avoids some of Black's sharpest set-ups.

The Accelerated London System is 1. d4 followed by 2. Bf4, usually against 1...d5 or 1...Nf6. Playing the bishop out before Nf3 gives Black fewer chances to choose an awkward set-up, and it is the more common London move order in master games. White then continues with e3, Nf3, c3, Nbd2 and Bd3, the familiar London pyramid.

The early bishop move also has drawbacks. Black can attack it with ...Nh5 or ...Bd6, and the queen on d1 cannot yet reach b3 quickly to protect b2. The most testing answers are 2...c5, hitting d4 straight away, and 2...Nf6 3. e3 c5, aiming for ...Qb6. White should know how to meet these with c3, Qb3 or Nc3 ideas, sometimes accepting a slightly worse structure in exchange for active pieces.

Typical plans for White are the same as in the rest of the London: a knight on e5 supported by f4, a kingside attack with the queen and bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal, or a slow queenside expansion if Black castles there. Black does best by striking in the center with ...c5 and ...e5 rather than allowing White a free build-up. The bishop on f4 is important to White, so trading it with ...Bd6 or ...Nh5 is a common goal for Black.

The accelerated move order suits players who want a reliable system they can play in almost every game with little theory. Black players benefit from preparing one active answer, since the London scores well when Black plays passively.

A practical tip for White is to keep a retreat square ready for the bishop with h3 or by meeting ...Nh5 with Bg5 or Be5. Losing the bishop pair is not a disaster, but the London plays best when the bishop on f4 stays active and controls e5.

It is one of the main lines of the London System.