Download PGN of December ’24 d-Pawn Specials games
The London: 2...c5 3 d5 b5 [A45]
Meeting 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 with 2...c5 remains a pretty uncompromising choice. White can, of course, go 3 e3 or even 3 dxc5, but the critical test must be 3 d5 when 3...b5!? continues the ambitious sequence:
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Here 4 a4?! b4! 5 Bf4 just isn’t an especially good version of an a4 Benko (one almost always reached via this London move order), as we’ll see in Nilsson, A - Hillarp Persson, T.
A much better approach is a further uncompromising sequence in 4 e4!? Nxe4 5 Qf3, which quickly gave White good play for the pawn in Onischuk, A - Graif, W.
The London: 2...g6 3 Nd2 [A45]
Both Carlsen and Grischuk have dabbled in 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 g6 3 Nd2 this year when Black has a few options, including again 3...c5!?, after which 4 dxc5!? reaches an extremely unexplored position. Black’s best reaction would appear to be 4...Na6, and if 5 e4 Nxc5 6 e5 Ne6:
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This is clearly already pretty messy, and Black soon took the upper hand in Escalante Ramirez, B - Burke, J.
The London: 2...e6 3 e3 [A46]
After 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 e6 3 e3 Black has a wide choice, but if he wants to avoid theory, I can’t say I’m too impressed by 3...a6. Following 4 Nd2 c5 5 c3 Nc6 6 Ngf3 just what exactly has Black gained from the insertion of ...a6?
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It’s not obvious and White was quickly clearly better before winning a one-sided encounter in Kamsky, G - Ikonnikov, V.
The London: 2...e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 e3 Nc6 5 Nbd2 [A46]
1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 e3 Nc6 5 Nbd2 also offers Black a fair degree of choice, including 5...h6!?, which remains slightly fashionable:
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One point behind Black’s semi-waiting move is revealed after 6 h3 d5 7 c3 Bd6 when 8 Bg3?! no longer convinces, another is 6 c3 Nh5, as we’ll get to explore in Abdurakhmonov, M - Erigaisi, A.
The London: 3 Nf3 c5 4 e3 e6 5 Nbd2 Qb6 [D02]
Another not unfashionable line is 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 d5 3 e3 e6 4 Nf3 c5 5 Nbd2 Qb6 when 6 Rb1 is normal and offers Black a reasonable choice which includes 6...Bd7!?. One idea is an early ...Bb5, hence the energetic reaction 7 dxc5 Bxc5 8 b4!? Bd6 9 Bd3:
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This makes good sense, but so does 9...Bb5, after which Black was OK in Zhao Zong Yuan - Klimkowski, J.
The London: 3 Nf3 c5 4 e3 e6 5 Be2 [D02]
While our final encounter isn’t the most exciting ever, it does take a decent look at another vaguely trendy line in 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d5 3 Bf4 e6 4 e3 c5 5 Be2!?, with the idea of 5...Bd6 6 dxc5 Bxc5 7 c4 0-0 8 0-0 Nc6 9 Nc3:
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This may look more like a Queen’s Gambit Declined than a London, or is perhaps a Semi-Tarrasch with the dark-squared bishop outside the pawn chain, if you prefer. A well-prepared equaliser is 9...dxc4 10 Bxc4 Nh5!, as in Ding Liren - Gukesh, D, which was, of course, from a certain match in Singapore.
Will all our main games next month also be from OTB practice? Happy Christmas and enjoy the World Rapid & Blitz!
Until next time, Richard
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