ECO code: A48
Neo-King's Indian: London System
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3
Description: The Neo-King's Indian: London System features a solid setup where White develops the dark-squared bishop early to f4, supporting central control and preparing for a flexible pawn structure with e3. By combining London System ideas with a King's Indian Defense setup from Black, White aims for a solid but dynamic position.
Characteristic: This setup is characterized by White’s early bishop development outside the pawn chain before playing e3, which helps maintain flexibility and prepares for a quick central or queenside development.
Playing Style: As White, this opening is generally considered more positional and solid than aggressively attacking, though White maintains options to challenge the center or launch a kingside initiative later. Black typically adopts a hypermodern approach, preparing to contest the center with moves like ...d6 and ...c5.
Center Control: White does not immediately occupy the center with pawns but exerts indirect pressure on it, particularly through the bishop on f4 and the knight on f3. The move e3 supports a later d4 advance and solidifies the center, aiming for a balanced control rather than an early direct occupation.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice a selection of puzzles from real positions in games that used the Neo-King's Indian: London System, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 20 - Move #6 black