Skip to content
ECO D02WhiteA line in the London System

Learn the London vs Indian Defense: ...c5 Counterstrike line in the London System

Black challenges with an early ...c5; after the exchange White gets a slightly open Carlsbad-type structure with a strong bishop on f4 and easy development.

The moves you’ll play

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.Bf4c5
  3. 3.e3cxd4
  4. 4.exd4d5
  5. 5.Nf3Nc6
  6. 6.c3e6
  7. 7.Nbd2

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

Your coach, move by move

  1. 1. d4We grab central space and prepare our London bishop development.
  2. 2. Bf4We support d4 so that after the capture we can recapture cleanly and keep a healthy center.
  3. 3. e3We develop the knight, defend d4 once more, and prepare to castle while keeping the strong f4-bishop active.
  4. +2 more coached moves waiting in the app

Key ideas behind this line

  • Build the classic London pawn triangle (d4, e3, c3) and get the dark-squared bishop out to f4 before playing e3, so it stays active outside the chain.
  • When Black hits the bishop with ...Bd6, retreat Bf4-g3 to preserve your good bishop rather than trade it off.
  • Aim for the e5 outpost: plant a knight there with Ne5 (supported by Nbd2 and f4), then attack the king with f4, Rf3-h3 or Qf3.

Learn this exact line — free

GambitLab walks you through every move and why it works, then locks it into memory with spaced repetition. Your first line is on the house.

Train this line free

No card required · 7-day full access · Cancel anytime

More lines in this opening

Modern London: Main Line vs ...d5 (Ne4 Setup)

The most critical mainline: Black mirrors with ...Bd6 to challenge the London bishop, and White keeps the structure intact with Bg3, completing the harmonious c3/Nbd2/Bd3 setup before deciding on a kingside or central break.

London vs ...d5: Classical ...Bf5 / ...e6

A standard symmetrical-type position where White finishes development and prepares to castle; the plan is Ne5, f4, and a slow kingside buildup once Black commits.

London vs King's Indian Setup (...g6)

Against a King's Indian-style fianchetto, White plays h3 to keep the Bf4 safe from ...Nh5, develops modestly, and aims for a sound e3/Be2 structure with a later c4 or e4 break.

London vs Queen's Indian Setup (...b6, ...Bb7)

Black contests the long diagonal with ...Bb7; White completes development and prepares to challenge the center with c4 or expand with Ne5 and f4.

Jobava-style? No — London vs ...Bf5 Symmetry

When Black mirrors our bishop with ...Bf5, White transposes to a favorable Slav-like structure with c4 and Qb3, pressuring b7 and the queenside since Black's bishop has left the b8-h2 diagonal.

London vs ...c5 and ...Qb6 Counterattack

Black's aggressive ...Qb6 hits b2; White declines to defend passively and instead develops Nc3 and jumps to b5 hitting the c7-square, generating concrete counterplay rather than crawling back.

London vs Dutch-Style ...f5

Against a Dutch setup White keeps the London structure; with the bishop already developed to f4, the e5-outpost is ideal and White plants a knight there to dominate the dark squares.

London vs ...e6 and ...Bd6 Trade Attempt

Black tries to trade dark-squared bishops early with ...Bd6; White sidesteps with Bg3 and keeps the powerful London bishop, reaching the full harmonious setup.

London vs Chigorin-Style ...Nc6

Black plays an active ...Nc6 and ...Bf5; White switches to a c4-based plan, pressuring d5 and b7 while developing naturally, since the early ...Nc6 blocks Black's c-pawn.

London vs ...g6 with Aggressive Qb3

An ambitious anti-fianchetto line: with Nc3 and the bishop on f4, White launches an immediate h4-h5 pawn storm against Black's castled king before completing development.

London vs Slow ...e6/...Be7 (Quiet Main)

Against Black's modest ...Be7 setup, White completes the London and immediately occupies the e5-outpost, the springboard for a kingside attack with f4 and Qf3/Rf3.

London vs ...c5/...cxd4 with Nc3 Recapture Plan

Black hits b2 with ...Qb6; White offers a queen trade with Qb3, and when Black locks the queenside with ...c4, White calmly regroups the queen, keeping a sound position with the strong f4-bishop.

London vs Grünfeld-Style ...d5 and ...g6

Black combines the fianchetto with an early ...d5 and ...c5; White stays solid with c3 and Nbd2, holding the center and preparing Ne5 or a later dxc5 to fix structure.

London vs ...d6/...Nbd7 Old Indian Setup

Black aims for an Old Indian ...e5 break; White exchanges in the center to reach an open position where the f4/g3 bishop and quick development give comfortable equality-plus.

London vs Symmetrical ...Bf5 and ...e6 (Carlsbad Plan)

Black trades light-squared bishops; White recaptures with the queen for active centralization, then exchanges dark-squared bishops too, leaving a structurally sound, slightly easier middlegame to play.

← London System