The London System is a very powerful weapon for black. This game is a perfect example of just how solid and tactically dangerous it can be.
I played a 200 points higher rated opponent who often plays Reti/KIA/Nimzo Larsen setups with white, starting with either c4, Nf3 or b3. I had planned to play a safe and solid London with black, an opening I have had success with in the past few tournaments.
Once black sets up, it becomes hard for white to find aggressive plans, and players mostly choose to break the stronghold on d5 with either e4, c4 or both. My opponent did that in this game in a very unfortunate moment. The London won without a real fight in this one.
Ciutat de Barcelona 2021, Round 6
Atipov C. (2136) – Tomic S. (1927)
Reti vs London System
1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 c6 4. g3 Bf5 5. Bg2 e6 6. d3 h6 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. O-O Be7 9. Re1 Bh7 10. e4 O-O 11. e5 Ne8 12. Qe2 Nc7 13. c4 Nc5 14. d4 Nd3 15. Bc3 Nxe1 16. Nxe1 f6 17. Nd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 fxe5 19. dxe5 Bc5 20. Rf1 Qe7 21. Nf3 Rad8 22. Nh4 Qf7 23. Ng6 Qf5 24. Qxf5 Rxf5 25. Bh3 Rf7 26. b4 Rf3 27. bxc5 Rxc3 28. cxd5 cxd5 29. Nf4 Kf7 30. Ne2 Rxc5 31. f4 Rf8 32. Nd4 g6 33. g4 Rc3 34. Kg2 Ke7 35. Rf3 Rxf3 36. Kxf3 a6 37. a4 Ne8 38. Bf1 Ng7 39. Bd3 Kf7 40. h4 Rc8 41. Ke3 Rc1 42. Be2 Rh1 43. h5 gxh5 44. f5 hxg4 45. f6 Nf5+ 46. Nxf5 exf5 47. Kf4 Ke6 48. Bd3 Rh5 49. Bc2 g3 50. Kxg3 Rg5+ 51. Kf3 Rg8 52. Kf4 Rg4+ 53. Ke3 Rc4 54. Bd3 Rc3 55. a5 Kxe5 56. f7 Rc8 57. Be2 Rf8 58. Bh5 f4+ 59. Kd3 Kf5 60. Kd4 Kg5 61. Bf3 Rxf7 62. Kc5 Rf5 63. Kb6 d4 64. Bxb7 f3 65. Bxa6 Rf6+ 66. Ka7 Rxa6+ 67. Kxa6
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