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Jobava London

You play White. It starts 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4.

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The Jobava London after 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4

The Jobava London, named after Georgian grandmaster Baadur Jobava, puts the knight on c3 and the bishop on f4 early. It is aggressive: the knight can jump to b5 to attack c7 together with the bishop, the queen often comes to f3 or d2, and White often castles queenside and attacks on the kingside.

The course is built from 8,556 games of the Jobava London by strong players in Chess Castles' database: the lines below are the ones they really play, with the score White made in each.

The first moves, one by one

  1. 1.d4 It takes a centre square (d4). It opens a line for the bishop on c1. It opens a line for the queen on d1.
  2. 1...d5 It takes a centre square (d5). It opens a line for the bishop on c8. It opens a line for the queen on d8.
  3. 2.Nc3 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4, d5).
  4. 2...Nf6 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4, d5).
  5. 3.Bf4 It develops the bishop into the game. It controls the centre (e5).

3...c5

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5

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Jobava London: 3...c5

Move by move

  1. 3...c5 It controls the centre (d4). It opens a line for the queen on d8. It challenges the opponent's pawns. It offers a pawn (a gambit) to win time or the centre.

Plans for White

  • Against 3...c5, 4.e3 is the most common move: after ...cxd4 exd4 the e-file opens and White's pieces get good squares.
  • The jump Nb5 attacks c7 together with the f4 bishop: always check whether Black has covered c7.
  • Then Bd3, Nf3 or Qf3, and a kingside attack, sometimes after castling queenside.

3...e6

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6

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Jobava London: 3...e6

Move by move

  1. 3...e6 It controls the centre (d5). It opens a line for the bishop on f8.

Plans for White

  • After 3...e6 the c8 bishop is shut in. 4.Nb5 attacks c7 at once; 4...Na6 is the usual defence.
  • White continues with e3, Bd3, Nf3 and often h4 or Ne5 for a kingside attack.
  • Watch out: ...Bb4 pins the knight on c3: be ready to break the pin with a3 or by moving the queen to d3.

3...Bf5

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bf5

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Jobava London: 3...Bf5

Move by move

  1. 3...Bf5 It develops the bishop into the game. It controls the centre (e4).

Plans for White

  • Black copies with ...Bf5. Strong players are split almost evenly between 4.e3 and the sharp 4.f3 with g4 (which has its own line here, "3...Bf5 4.f3").
  • With 4.e3, a calmer plan is Nb5 and Bd3 to trade off Black's good bishop.

If you play 4.f3 (the g4 plan)

4.f3

  • 4.f3 prepares g4, chasing the f5 bishop and grabbing space on the kingside. After 4...e6, strong players answer 5.g4 in almost every game.
  • After 5...Bg6, h4 threatens h5, when the bishop on g6 has no good square left. Black answers with ...h5 or ...h6.
  • White then plays e3, Qd2 or Nge2, often castles queenside, and uses the kingside pawns to attack; Black usually hits back in the centre with ...c5.
  • Watch out: Pushing f3, g4 and h4 also loosens White's own position: White's king is usually safest on the queenside.

3...a6

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 a6

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Jobava London: 3...a6

Move by move

  1. 3...a6

Plans for White

  • 3...a6 stops Nb5. White builds up with e3, Nf3 and Bd3, often followed by Ne5 and a kingside attack.

Against ...g6 (2...g6)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6

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Jobava London: Against ...g6 (2...g6)

Move by move

    Plans for White

    • Against ...g6 White often plays Qd2 and Bh6 to trade Black's fianchetto bishop, castles queenside and pushes h4-h5.
    • e4 builds a big centre; Black usually strikes back with ...c5 or ...d6 and ...e5.

    1...c5

    1.d4 c5

    ♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
    Jobava London: 1...c5

    Move by move

      Plans for White

      • Against 1...c5, 2.d5 is the strongest: the pawn takes space and cramps Black's pieces. Then Nc3, Bf4 and e4 build a big centre.
      • 2.dxc5 also works, but Black wins the pawn back with ...e6 and ...Bxc5 and develops easily.
      • Watch out: ...Qb6 hits b2. Nc3 is a good pawn offer: after ...Qxb2, Bd2 and e4 give White a big lead in development.

      2...Nc6

      1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nc6

      ♜︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
      Jobava London: 2...Nc6

      Move by move

        Plans for White

        • Against 2...Nc6, 3.Bf4 keeps to the system, then e3, Nf3 and Bd3 or Bb5. The knight on c6 blocks Black's c-pawn, so ...c5 is hard to play.
        • Bb5 pins the knight on c6 to the king, a handy extra idea once e3 is in.
        • Watch out: ...e5 is Black's break. Take with the bishop: Bxe5 Nxe5 dxe5, and after ...d4 the knight goes back to b1. Never retreat the bishop to c1: ...exd4 and ...Bb4+ hurt.

        3...Nc6

        1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Nc6

        ♜︎♝︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♞︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♝︎♞︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♛︎♚︎♝︎♞︎♜︎
        Jobava London: 3...Nc6

        Move by move

        1. 3...Nc6 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (d4, e5).

        Plans for White

        • Against 3...Nc6, 4.Nb5! is the sharpest: it hits c7, and Black has only one good answer, the pawn offer ...e5.
        • After 4...e5 5.Bxe5 Nxe5 6.dxe5 the f6 knight is attacked; after ...a6 7.Nc3 d4 8.exf6 dxc3 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.bxc3 gxf6, Black's pawns are broken and White has the better endgame.
        • For a calm game, 4.e3 with Nf3 and Bb5 (pinning the knight on c6) is solid.

        Other replies

        • Other replies: keep the Jobava ideas: Nc3 and Bf4, the Nb5 jump against c7 when it works, and a kingside attack with the queen and the h-pawn.

        How each line scores

        LineMovesGamesWhite scores
        3...d5 · Rapport-Jobava System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d51,57251%
        3...e6 · Rapport-Jobava System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.Nc3 e61,09149%
        3...c5 · Rapport-Jobava System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.Nc3 c568452%
        3...a6 · Rapport-Jobava System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.Nc3 a666348%
        3...c6 · Rapport-Jobava System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.Nc3 c655254%
        3...Bf5 · Rapport-Jobava System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.Nc3 Bf551953%
        2...c5 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c550640%
        3...Bg7 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg742259%
        3...Nf6 · Veresov Attack, Dutch System1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 Nf629164%
        4...Bf5 · Chigorin Variation1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 c6 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 Bf529059%
        4...g6 · Chigorin Variation1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 c6 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 g618946%
        3...g6 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d6 3.Nc3 g618462%
        3...Nbd7 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd716247%
        3...c6 · Veresov Attack, Dutch System1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 c614561%
        1...g6 · Modern Defense1.d4 g611738%
        3...a6 · Veresov Attack, Dutch System1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 a69261%
        3...e6 · Veresov Attack, Dutch System1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 e68258%
        1...d6 · Queen's Pawn Game1.d4 d67845%
        2...Nf6 · Raphael Variation1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf67753%
        3...c5 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 c57450%
        3...e6 · Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5 3.Bf4 e65452%
        3...c6 · Chigorin Variation, Alburt Defense1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5 3.Bf4 c65254%
        3...Bd6 · Rapport-Jobava System, with e61.d4 d5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd65163%
        3...c6 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d6 3.Nc3 c64941%
        2...b6 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 b64839%
        3...Bb4 · Accelerated London System1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb43238%

        The score counts a win as 1 and a draw as ½, from White's side, in games between strong players.

        On the board: the course (plans, model games, puzzles from real games of the opening), and the opening trainer, which drills the moves until you know them (a free account keeps your progress).

        More openings: Caro-Kann Defence, Chebanenko Slav, Ruy Lopez, Italian Game, Queen's Gambit, London System, Sicilian Najdorf, French Defence, King's Indian Defence, Queen's Gambit Declined.