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LCB, Issue #126 --, Keep a Central King in London December 01, 2025 |
Keep a Central King in LondonChessorb Classic, Issue #126 -- GOTM #96 Chessorb Classic Many London System games result in opposite sides castling. Sometimes White does not castle at all. He often doesn't need to as many London games come to closed positions. White will then launch dangerous Kingside attacks with Black struggling to bring his Queenside pieces to his King's defense. This month's game is a look at just such a scenario. More possibilities for the London System are evident in this game. The value of piece activity and mobility is another factor in the outcome. The game was played in Cork, Ireland in 2005. Bernard Boyle had White and Thomas Lane had Black. The Kingside attack was very instructive in terms of executing a breakthrough. Keep a Central King in LondonBoyle, Bernard - Lane, Thomas [D02]GotM #96 Cork, 2005 [Connaughton, Ken] 1.d4 Queen's Pawn Game 1...d5 Closed Game 2.Bf4 (2.c4 The Queen's Gambit is usually played here.; 2.Nf3; 2.Nc3; 2.e3; 2.Bg5) 2...Nf6 The main move in the position. (2...e6; 2...c5; 2...Bf5; 2...Nc6; 2...c6) 3.e3 (3.Nf3; 3.Nc3; 3.h3) 3...e6 (3...c5; 3...Bf5; 3...g6; 3...c6) 4.Nd2 (4.Nf3; 4.Bd3; 4.c3; 4.c4) 4...c5 (4...Bd6) 5.c3 (5.Ngf3) 5...Nc6 (5...Bd6) 6.Ngf3 (6.Bd3) 6...Bd7 (6...Bd6; 6...Be7; 6...cxd4) 7.Bd3 a6
White has gone with the London System and Black is preparing to expand on the Queenside. (7...Be7) 8.a4 Be7 9.Ne5 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.Qf3 Re8 12.g4!
White shows his hand. He won't be castling Kingside. The game has a closed nature and White believes his King will be secure enough in the center or on the Queenside. His Kingside will be a base of operations against the Black King. 12...g6 13.h4 The pawn storm is coming and Black's Kingside will come under a severe attack. 13...Bf8 14.h5 Bg7 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Bg5 The
defender of h7 is now under threat. 16...Nb8 17.Qh3 Bc6 18.Ndf3 Qb6
Black desparately trying to get some counterplay going. (18...Nbd7 19.Nxd7 Bxd7 would have held the Knight in place.) 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Qh7+ Kf8 21.Qxf7#
A beautifully constructed mating net closes on the Black King. 1-0 Boyle, Bernard - Lane, Thomas [D02] P.S. If you do not have html based email software and you're using a text only system, you may find that the links are only partially highlighted and may not work. If this is the case, simply copy and paste the entire link into the browser and hit Enter. That should get you where you want to go. Comments, ideas, feedback? I'd be stoked to hear from you. Get in touch See you next month. Ken 
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