The London System is being played by an ever increasing number of players, and it’s easy to see why. Against virtually every Black defence after 1.d4 it offers White an easy-to-learn and reliable set of lines. In the process, White has interesting choices between strategic or more aggressive approaches, while avoiding loads of opening theory. Ideal for players who don’t have much time to study.

Creative elite players such as Alexander Grischuk, Baadur Jobava, Richard Rapport and even World Champion Magnus Carlsen have the London in their repertoire.

Following the enormous success of The Agile London System, the book he co-authored in 2016, Oscar de Prado revisits his favourite opening. The general focus is less on theory and has a more practical approach – although he does present recently played games and some important theoretical updates. De Prado avoids long and complicated variations and concentrates on explaining straightforward plans, clear-cut strategies and standard manoeuvres.

If you follow De Prado’s lessons you are unlikely to face surprises or to emerge from the opening in a worse position, and you will learn to make the right middlegame choices. Studying this book is the most efficient way to acquaint yourself with a flexible chess opening that is easy to learn and hard to counter.

Oscar de Prado Rodriguez (1973) is a FIDE Master from Spain. He has successfully been playing the London System for many years. In 2016 he published, together with co-author Alfonso Romero, the acclaimed The Agile London System.

“The idea is not to aim for master level, endless computer analysis of the opening but patiently explain the ideas and use games that complement the strategy. The book is excellent in detailing how to play the opening, the middlegame ideas and what to do against the obvious Black defences.” -- IM Gary Lane, ECF Newsletter

“You don’t learn an opening by memorizing moves, but by understanding typical positions. Understanding the most important ideas and concepts within the pawn structure will help a player to know how to deploy his pieces. That many club players adopt the London system is because at the start White almost always plays the same moves, so it is ideal for those who don’t have much time to study theory. The London’s reputation of boring solidity is unjustified. Otherwise highly creative players like Grischuk, Jobava and Rapport wouldn’t have it in their repertoire.” -- IM Herman Grooten, Schaaksite

“I think that this book will prove invaluable to the hordes of London System addicts out there, grouping together techniques in the opening, middlegame and endgame in a pleasantly readable manner.” -- GM Matthew Sadler, author of ‘The Silicon Road to Chess Improvement’

“Rather than just sprucing up a few lines, this latest work ultimately aims to liven up the reader’s mind! So, apart from giving the low-down on a selection of opening plans, he also investigates typical middlegame and even endgame scenarios. In the present work, each of the lessons deals with a specific strategic concept, but he still finds time to highlight new trends and ideas.” -- GM Glenn Flear, New In Chess Yearbook

“The idea is not to aim for master level, endless computer analysis of the opening but patiently explain the ideas and use games that complement the strategy. [The London] has been adopted by elite players such as Carlsen as he is happy to outplay his opponents from an equal middlegame but there are plenty of tricks and traps. The book is excellent in detailing how to play the opening, the middlegame ideas and what to do against the obvious Black defences.” -- IM Gary Lane, ECF Newsletter

“You don’t learn an opening by memorizing moves, but by understanding typical positions. Understanding the most important ideas and concepts within the pawn structure will help a player to know how to deploy his pieces. That many club players adopt the London system is because at the start White almost always plays the same moves, so it is ideal for those who don’t have much time to study theory. White has some interesting choices between strategic play or more aggressiveness. The London’s reputation of boring solidity is unjustified. Otherwise highly creative players like Grischuk, Jobava and Rapport wouldn’t have it in their repertoire.” -- IM Herman Grooten, Schaaksite

“The content of this book is divided in twelve lessons that be easy incorporated in any study plan making it ideal for the club player. De Prado goes beyond opening moves to explain three key aspects to master any opening named thematic tactics, typical plans and the strategic concepts. Importantly, De Prado discusses new ideas and developments in the London System in lesson eleven, which is a time saver to the non-professional chess player.” -- Miguel Ararat, Florida Chess Quarterly