Meet 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 with the active 2...c5: hit d4 and b2 at once with ...Nc6 and ...Qb6, then grab queenside space with ...c4 before the London set-up is finished. This is a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO D00), written for players rated around 1350. Each move is explained and then drilled on a board; it is free.
Key ideas of Beat the London
2...c5 strikes before White has played c3, so d4 is under fire at once.
...Nc6 and ...Qb6 attack b2 and d4 together; the bishop on f4 has left b2 without a defender.
After Qb3 answer ...c4: the queen must retreat and Black gains queenside space for ...b5-b4.
Develop the light-squared bishop to f5 before ...e6, so it does not get locked in.
The line trainer
The line trainer for Beat the London has 50 lines that grow out of 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5, learned a few new ones a day with spaced-repetition review.
chessGM