In the year 2025 I believe it will be the year of the London for me or maybe the queens pawn opening 1.d4. I had recently had a self-reflection and I asked myself, “how do you like winning chess games?” My answer to the question was a slow methodical approach that aimed to secure small advantages to gradually increase the pressure on my challenger. I prefer to have absolute control over a position rather than gambling on a highly complex position where supreme calculations (at a heavy risk) will result in a quick victory. A long game does not bother me. If I aim for short games, it will likely result in inevitable impatience in my play which is damaging in the long run…
The game I brought today was a short game built on a highly positional opening with direct play.
1.D4 d5 2. Bf4
The London system is a great tool for getting solid/active position. It fits well with my style because it provides a small edge that can be steadily developed over time. However, many of the young players who have disagreements with the London criticize it as ‘lame’ because it offers just easy development and nothing else.
In the right hands, the London System is a lethal weapon!
2…Nf6 3. E3 e6 4. C3 Be7 5. Nd2 0-0 6. Bd3 c5 7. Ngf3 Nc6
Here we have a critical position. It is clear that white has control over the e5 square and, due to that control, progress is limited through the center. When progress cannot be made in the center, it is advised to pursue an initiative on either wing. White chooses the kingside with the point of attack being the h7- pawn. We have pressure but we need an additional 2 attackers to cancel out its defense otherwise we an attempt to drive away one of the defenders. The manner in which white chooses to move forward is occupying the e5- outpost so the queen can reposition itself on the h- file.
8. Ne5 Qb6 9.Rb1 Rd8 10.Qf3 Bd7 11.Qh3 Rac8
-From this point, white chooses to drive a defender from the h7- pawn.
12.g4 g6 13.Ndf3 cxd4 14.exd4 Ne8
I find this game to be a strong example of what happens when Subjective Play meets Objective play. Subjective play is making your pieces look good while Objective play is making your pieces do good. There is a clear difference… Let me try again. Subjective play is like controlling a lot of squares where Objective play is controlling the squares needed to deliver checkmate. White’s strategy was based on generating pressure against the h7- pawn to successfully execute a kingside attack. Black, on the other hand, had developed naturally but hit a wall when white’s attack strategy (h7) forced black to abandon his goal to stop white from achieving his.
15.Nxf7 +- (Black Resigns)