Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System

The Accelerated London System is 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4, putting the bishop out before Nf3 or e3. White wants the usual London setup with e3, Nd2 and Bd3, while Black challenges d4 with ...c5 or develops with ...Nf6 and ...e6.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4
ECO
D00
Engine
+0.07 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
77,972 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Follow with e3, Nf3 or Nd2, Bd3 and short castling, the standard London structure.
  • Keep the bishop safe from ...Bd6 trades by dropping it to g3 when needed.
  • Use c3 to support d4 when Black aims pressure at it with ...c5 and ...Nc6.
  • Recapture on d4 with the knight after ...cxd4 to keep the position flexible.

Black

  • 2...c5 hits d4 at once and is the main try, leading to the Steinitz Countergambit.
  • Develop with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6, then trade on d4 to open the c-file.
  • Play ...e6 and ...Bd6 to challenge the f4 bishop and simplify the middlegame.
  • Do not let White set up for free; ...c5 early is the most active plan.

Plans and pawn structure

White's plan is clear: e3, a knight to f3 or d2, Bd3, castle, and later push for kingside play with Ne5. Black's best chance is to hit the center early with ...c5, aiming the queen and knights at b2 and d4. If Black chooses ...e6 and ...Bd6, White usually keeps the bishop with Bg3 and the game stays slow. The c-file and the b2 pawn are the main targets for Black.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.07: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.07 2...c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Be2
  2. +0.08 2...e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nd2 Bd6 5.Bg3
  3. +0.11 2...Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nd2 Bd6 5.Bg3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

77,972 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.9%.

under 120055.9%
1200–159953.9%
1600–199953.1%
2000 and up52.5%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, use the early bishop as a target. Play 2...c5 and develop the knights before committing the light-squared bishop. Offer the ...Bd6 trade when you can. Avoid slow setups that let White finish the London setup with no counterplay.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System?

The Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System starts 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4. Its ECO code is D00.

Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.07 at depth 20, which is level. In 77,972 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.9%. A low-theory system for White players who like set plans, and Black gets a fair game by hitting d4 early.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System?

White puts the bishop on f4 first and then builds the London setup with e3 and Nd2. Black hits d4 early with ...c5 or develops with ...Nf6, ...e6 and ...Bd6.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is c5, with e6 and Nf6 close behind. 2...c5 strikes at d4 before White can support it with c3 and e3.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.