Damián Lemos -The London System - Puzzles (solutions)

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 You #1 The London System a

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Black just played Qb6 with the typical idea of attacking the b2 pawn. Which move is recommended for white? The move 1.Nc3! is best as the capture of the b2 pawn is bad for Black in almost all variations. After Qxb2 2.Nb5 Na6 3.Rb1 Qxa2 4.Ra1 Qb2 5.Rxa6 bxa6 6.Nc7+ Kd8 7.Nxa8 White has a decisive advantage.

You #2 The London System

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knight on c6 and allow a White knight to jump into e5.

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White have several plans, one of which is to control the e5 square. Which move did White play to achieve that? The thematic 1.Bb5 aims to eliminate the

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Black has just played Nxe5. Which move is better 1.Rxe5 or 1.dxe5? In this

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 position it is better to play 1.dxe5! claiming the strong d4 square for the knight. From here it will be superior to the bishop and the e5 pawn controls the d6 and f6 squares.

You #4 The London System a

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Black has just played Bd6. How should White continue? 1.Bg3! White should not allow the exchange of the bishop without getting something in return. Now if black plays Bxg3 2.hxg3 White gets to open the h-file and if black does not take on g3, White will end up playing Ne5 occupying a powerful outpost and protecting the bishop.

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You #5 The London System a

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In variations with an early Bf5 by Black, White usually plays either c4 or c3 and Qb3. However in this game White found another interesting plan. What did he play? White played 1.Bd3 offering the exchange of bishops. After Bxd3 2.Qxd3 c6 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.h3 Nbd7 instead of the more natural breaks like c4 or e4, White preferred the plan with a4 and a5 with a good position.

You #6 The London System

(Diagram) White uses of the main plans against the Slav setup. What is it? 1.Qb3! attacks the weak point b7 and, after Qb6

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 a

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2.c5! White forces the advantageous exchange of queens.

You #7 The London System a

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What is the strongest plan for White in this position? The plan is 1.Nd2!

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with idea of moving the knight to a5, with Nb3 and Na5, putting pressure on b7. It is not good for Black to exchange the knight, with Bd8 and Bxa5, since bxa5 opens the b-file, and from a5 the knight has threats against b7 and c6.

#8 You The London System a

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White has an advantage with the passed b-pawn but Black can still save the game. How? 1...Nd7 maintains control and equality - you have to stop the b-pawn. [ In the game 1...e4?? was played and 2.b6 gave White a decisive advantage. ]

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 You #9 The London System a

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Black exchanged queens on b3 but this allows White to apply pressure along the a-file. How should White continue this plan? The main idea is to pressurize the a-pawn. In the game 1.Ba6 Bxa6 2.Rxa6 Nb8 3.Bxb8! Rfxb8 4.Rfa1 was played with a clear and comfortable advantage, playing against the weak a7 pawn. [ Another good plan was 4.b4 with idea of b5. ]

You #10 The London System

(Diagram) Black wants to recapture the c5 pawn. How can White keep the advantage?

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With 1.Bxa6! Rxa6 2.Be5! Nd7 3.Bxg7 Kxg7 4.b4! White consolidates his extra pawn.

You #11 The London System a

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What is the best plan for White in this

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 position? With 1.Rc7! Ba6 2.Bxa6 Rxa6 3.Rac1 dominating the c-file and the 7th rank, White have a practically decisive advantage. The g3 bishop is much stronger than its g7 counterpart and the White queen will come to b5 to put pressure on the queenside weaknesses.

You #12 The London System

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How should White continue here? Once again the thematic 1.Qb3 is the best move. When black moves the c8 bishop White must pressure b7 with Qb3.

You #13 The London System

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How should White meet ...Bd6 ? 1.Bg5! White should not allow the exchange of the f4 bishop without getting anything in return Be7 [ 1...f6 2.Qh5 g6 3.Bxg6 hxg6 4.Qxg6+ Ng7 5.Bxf6 with a clear advantage to White ] 2.Bc2! The idea is Qd3 creating weaknesses in Black's King position.

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(Diagram) White has the opportunity to get a clear advantage. How? With 1.Nb5! threating Nxc7. If Na6 2.Qa4! and now the lesser evil is c6 [ In the game 2...Nb4 was played which allows 3.Nxc7+ Kf8 4.Nxa8 with a decisive advantage. ]

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 a

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2.b4 a6 3.b5! cxb5 4.Bxb5 Rc8 5.Bd3 followed again by the plan of b4-b5 with advantage for White.

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3.Qxa6 cxb5 4.Qxb5+ with clear advantage.

You #15 The London System a

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Black has just played ...Bxa5. How should White recapture? The correct move is 1.bxa5! opening the b-file for the white rooks to put pressure on the b7 pawn. In the game, White got his rooks to b4 and b3, won the b7 pawn and the game.

You #17 The London System

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(Diagram) What is the best plan for White in this position? The b5 break with 1.c5! Nbd7

Can you find the best move for White in

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 a

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this position? The break with 1.c4! Be4 [ if 1...dxc4 2.d5! exd5 3.Nxd5 Bd8 4.Bxc4 with clear advantage ] 2.cxd5 exd5 3.Nd2 Ra5 4.a4 and Black is lost. If Bb4 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.Red1 +-.

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(Diagram) Black has just played the tricky ...Bf5. What should White do? 1.Qxf5! gives White the advantage with the d5 pawn undefended. If the position had, for example, knights on f3 and f6 then Qc1 would be the best move. After Qxb2 2.Qxd5 Qc1+ [ 2...Qxa1 3.Qb5! ] 3.Ke2 Qb2+ 4.Kf3 with a winning advantage after Qxa1 5.Bxc4! e6 6.Qb5

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You #19 The London System a

You #18 The London System

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What is the best move for White? With 1.Rd5 White is winning a pawn after Qe7 2.Nxe5! Nxe5 3.Rxe5 since Qxe5 4.Bxb7+ wins the queen.

ChessBase Reader 2013 Printout, User , 2/9/2017 You #20 The London System a

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Can you find the winning move for White? 1.Be6+! fxe6 [ 1...Rd7 2.Bxd7+ with mate in few moves ] 2.Qxe6+ Rd7 3.Qxd7# 1-0

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