London System, with Bd3 (A48)

1 named line in this family, ECO A48. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

Main lineA48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. Bd3

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. Bf4 gets outside the pawn chain before it closes, then the same sound setup against nearly anything: c3, e3, Bd3 - low theory, a solid centre, a quiet kingside pull.

1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.
2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn. Theory calls this the Knights Variation.
2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the East Indian Defense.

London System, with Bd3

Main lineA48

Walk these lines on a board