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Learn the Jobava London: 3...g6 Fianchetto line in the Jobava London System

Against the Grunfeld-like fianchetto, White trades off Black's key defensive bishop with Qd2-Bh6 and strikes in the center with e4 for an easy initiative.

The moves you’ll play

  1. 1.d4d5
  2. 2.Nc3Nf6
  3. 3.Bf4g6
  4. 4.Qd2Bg7
  5. 5.Bh6O-O
  6. 6.Bxg7Kxg7
  7. 7.e4dxe4
  8. 8.Nxe4

The line continues — master it move by move in the app.

Your coach, move by move

  1. 1. d4We take the center with the d-pawn.
  2. 2. Nc3We develop the knight aggressively, supporting the coming e4 break.
  3. 3. Bf4We post the bishop actively, anticipating Black's kingside fianchetto.
  4. +5 more coached moves waiting in the app

Key ideas behind this line

  • The thematic Nb5 jump hits the soft c7/d6 squares and provokes concessions like ...a6 or an awkward ...Na6; if Black ever allows Nc7+ it forks the king and rook.
  • White's standard development is e3, Bd3 (or Be2) and Nf3, keeping the powerful Bf4-Nc3 duo intact and retaining the option to castle on either wing.
  • Against a ...g6 fianchetto, White launches a kingside pawn storm with h4-h5 to pry open lines toward the black king.

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More lines in this opening

Jobava London: 3...e6 Classical

When Black challenges the bishop with ...Bd6, White sidesteps with Bg3, keeps the bishop pair tension, and develops harmoniously for a slight pull.

Jobava London: 3...c6 Slav Setup

Versus a Slav-style ...c6 and ...Bf5, White trades light bishops to ease development and aims for the classic e3-Nf3 setup with a comfortable space edge.

Jobava London: 3...a6 Prophylaxis

Black plays ...a6 to forestall Nb5; White simply completes a harmonious London setup with Nf3, Bd3 and castling, retaining a pleasant space edge.

Jobava London: 3...e6 4.Nb5 Trap

If Black blocks the bishop with ...Bd6, White uses the Nb5 jump to trade for the bishop and inflict doubled d-pawns, securing a long-term structural target.

Jobava London: 3...Nc6 Chigorin Style

Against an early ...Nc6, White prevents ...Nb4 ideas with a3-free development, trades the light bishops and reaches a harmonious structure with the better minor piece.

Jobava London: 3...c5 4.e3 cxd4

When Black releases the central tension early, White recaptures with the e-pawn to gain the half-open e-file and a mobile center, developing actively behind it.

Jobava London: 3...e6 4.e3 c5 5.Nb5

After a French-like ...e6 and ...c5, White grabs the b5-square and supports the knight with c3, maintaining a bind and harmonious development.

Jobava London: 3...Nbd7 Solid

Against the solid ...Nbd7, White develops naturally, dodges the bishop trade with Bg3, and castles into a flexible, slightly more spacious middlegame.

Jobava London: 3...g6 4.e3 Setup

A sharp anti-fianchetto try: White advances h4-h5 to crack open Black's kingside, sacrificing the exchange for a dangerous attack against the castled king.

Jobava London: 3...c5 4.dxc5 Gambit

A positional treatment of 3...c5: White pins with Bb5, recaptures to keep an isolated-queen's-pawn setup with active pieces, then trades dark bishops to fix targets.

Jobava London: 3...Bf5 4.Nf3 Quiet

A calm alternative to the pawn storm: White develops with Nf3 and trades the dark bishops on g3, opening the h-file and gaining a small but durable edge.

Jobava London: 3...e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Nb5

When Black meets the bishop trade idea with ...Bd6, the Nb5 jab forces the bishop back to e7 with loss of time, after which White develops with a comfortable spatial plus.

Jobava London: 3...d5 vs ...b6 Queenside Fianchetto

Against a queenside fianchetto plan, White inserts Bb5+ to provoke ...c6, then trades the light bishops on advantageous terms and keeps the more active position.

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