Shirov against London System | Berzins – Shirov | Blitz chess

Alexei Shirov faces London System = opening which supposed to leave black with very little counter chances and be vulnarable for long term manoeuvrers of White. Shirov looks for option to spice things up.

#alexeishirov #londonsystem

IM Roland Berzins – GM Alexei Shirov, Riga, 2020

The London System is a chess opening that usually arises after 1.d4 and 2.Bf4, or 1.d4, 2.Nf3 and 3.Bf4. It is a “system” opening that can be used against virtually any black defence and thus comprises a smaller body of opening theory than many other openings. The London System is one of the Queen’s Pawn Game openings where White opens with 1.d4 but does not play the Queen’s Gambit. It normally results in a closed game.

Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovačević, in the introduction to their 2005 book Win with the London System, state:

Basically the London is a set of solid lines where after 1.d4 White quickly develops his dark-squared bishop to f4 and normally bolsters his centre with [pawns on] c3 and e3 rather than expanding. Although it has the potential for a quick kingside attack, the white forces are generally flexible enough to engage in a battle anywhere on the board. Historically it developed into a system mainly from three variations:

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4

The line came into fashion in the 1922 London tournament as a way of meeting hypermodern setups. The line gives White a solid position, and critics of the line refer to it as the “old man’s variation” or the “boring system”.[2] Even so, the opening can lead to sharp attacks. Vlatko Kovačević and David Bronstein are among the sharp tactical players who have played the London System.[3]

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Blitz chess (also known as speed or fast chess) is a type of chess in which each player is given less time to consider their moves than normal tournament time controls allow. Openings, tactics and strategy are same.