Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6
This London System line is 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4, where Black has shut the c8 bishop behind the e6 pawn and kept the g8 knight flexible. Black aims for ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Bd6 to trade off White's best bishop, while White builds e3, c3 and a bishop on d3 or e2.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4
- ECO
- D02
- Engine
- +0.16 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 12,184 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 54.2%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play e3 and Be2 or Bd3, then castle short; the first engine line shows Be2.
- Answer ...Bd6 with Bg3 to keep the tension, as in the third engine line.
- Take on c5 at the right moment and play c4 to hit d5.
- Use Nbd2 and a3 to restrain ...Bb4 and ...Nb4 ideas.
Black
- 3...c5 and ...Nc6 hit d4; after ...cxd4 and exd4 the structure becomes symmetrical.
- ...Bd6 offers a trade of the f4 bishop, White's most active minor piece.
- ...Qb6 pressures b2 and d4 if White develops the light bishop too early.
- Plan ...b6 and a later bishop move to b7 to give the locked c8 bishop a future.
Plans and pawn structure
Black's light bishop is passive, so the plan is ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Bd6, with ...b6 and the bishop to b7 later. White's plan is Bd3, Nbd2, O-O and Ne5 or c4. If Black trades on d4 and White recaptures with the e-pawn, the open e-file and the e5 square become important. If the dark bishops come off, the game becomes calm and balanced.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.16: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.16 3...c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Be2 cxd4 6.exd4
- +0.16 3...Nf6 4.e3 c5 5.Nbd2 Bd6 6.dxc5
- +0.18 3...Bd6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Bg3 c5 6.dxc5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
12,184 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.2%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, play ...c5 and ...Bd6 early so White cannot build the full setup without pressure. As White, keep the bishop with Bg3 if you want more tension, or accept the trade and use the e5 square.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Nf6.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6?
The Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6 starts 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4. Its ECO code is D02.
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6 good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.16 at depth 20, which is level. In 12,184 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.2%. A solid line for both sides that rewards players who know the standard pawn breaks.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6?
White sets up the London bishop, and Black answers with ...c5 and ...Bd6 to challenge it. The fight is about the f4 bishop, the d4 pawn and the e5 square.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is c5, with Nf6 and Bd6 close behind. 3...c5 strikes d4 at once and prepares ...Nc6.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.