the Jobava

London System
Simon Williams

www.everymanchess.com
 About the Author

Simon Williams is a Grandmaster, a well-known presenter and a widely-followed streamer,

as well as a popular writer whose previous books have received great praise. He is much
admired for his dynamic and spontaneous attacking style.

Also by the Author

Attacking Chess: The French
Grandmaster Gambits 1 e4 (with Richard Palliser)
How to Win at Chess Quickly
The Iron English (with Richard Palliser)
The Killer Dutch
The New Sicilian Dragon
Inhalt

About the Author 3

Introduction 5

1 Common Ideas for White 8

2 Quickstarter 24

Part One – The Main Line: 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 d5 3 Íf4

3 3...c5 42
4 3...Íf5 72
5 3...c6 88
6 3...e6 104
7 3...a6 128

Part Two – Black Fianchettoes with ...g6

8 3...g6 151
9 2...g6 175

Part Three – Early Alternatives

10 1...d5 2 Ìc3 Ìc6 190
11 1...d5 2 Ìc3 c5 199
12 1...d5 2 Ìc3 Others 219
13 An Early ...e6 and ...Íb4 226
14 1...c5 235
15 The Dutch 239

Index of Variations 249

Index of Complete Games 254
 Einführung

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Jobava London System! A simple yet effective
opening. An opening that is young in its life, but has a great future.
I came across this opening when watching the games of GM Baadur Jobava. My first
thought was, ‘What is this opening, why haven’t I seen it before?’. The more I researched it,
the more I thought it would be a perfect opening for numerous players. What are the bene-
fits of the Jobava London?
1) It is a perfect opening for people who have little time on their hands. That is because
the ideas and moves are simple to learn. There is very little ‘theory’ as such and so long as
you master the main ideas and concepts, the Jobava London System will offer you lots of
fun and exciting games. Compared to other openings where mountains of variations need
to be learnt, this makes it an attractive opening. In essence, it is very simple, yet very pow-
erful.
2) The opening hasn’t been around for long. It is definitely fresh and fun! The Jobava
London has only really started to gain momentum at top level in the last ten years, so in
the terms of openings, it is a youngster. This means there are areas of it that are still to be
explored.
3) It is perfect for beginners, juniors, people with bad memories and experts alike. As I
have mentioned, the Jobava London’s starting moves are very easy to learn. There are not
many long lines which also makes it attractive to those of us who do not want to just rely
on our memories, but instead want to be creative.
4) Black cannot play on ‘auto-pilot’. Many players on the black side might have learnt
what to do against standard White d4 openings, but the Jobava London is different. This
means that it will surprise Black at an early stage, which cannot be a bad thing. Convinced
yet? Possibly not! Well, let me show you some moves:

1 d4 d5
There are three main ways that Black can play against the Jobava London System:
1) Systems with ...d5. These are very common and we start this book by looking at all
the possibilities here.
2) Systems with ...g6. Of course, many people play an early ...g6 and we must know what
to do against those lines.

5
The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

3) An early ...c5, ...Íb4 and other ideas. These speak for themselves and are in the third
section.
After 1...Ìf6 2 Ìc3 Black already cannot play on autopilot, which is another reason I
love this opening. Following 2...g6 3 Íf4 Íg7 (Chapter Eight’s 3...d5 4 e3 Íg7 5 h4! is also
very dangerous) 4 e4! White has good chances to attack, as we will study in Chapter Nine.
2 Ìc3!?
W________W
[rhb1kgn4]
[0p0W0p0p]
[WDWDWdWD]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDW)WdWD]
[DWHWDWDW]
[P)PDP)P)]
[$WGQIBHR]
W--------W
Already taking Black out of mainline theory. This does seem similar to a very popular
opening, the Italian Game, with 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 and 3 Íc4. We are doing a mirror image of
that, and with 1 d4!
2...Ìf6 3 Íf4
W________W
[rhb1kgW4]
[0p0W0p0p]
[WDWDWhWD]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDW)WGWD]
[DWHWDWDW]
[P)PDP)P)]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
The starting position for our adventures. This bishop is often a great piece, as we will
see later. One thing I love about the opening is that White often gets a good version of a
standard London System. This is due to the knight on c3, which is much more of an active

6
 Intro d uctio n

piece in the Jobava London System.

The way I have structured the material is to run through Black’s main defences, as out-
lined above. With each chapter, I’ve first taken a couple of ‘informational’ games that show
you the main points of the opening. After these games, I move on to the theory that you
need to know.
This book is an updated and so slightly expanded version of the course I wrote on the
Jobava London System for Chessable back in 2019. My good friend and leading Jobava Lon-
don aficionado Blair Connell kindly shared plenty of his own analysis and games to help
with that. Now for this Everyman Chess version, I must also thank Richard Palliser and
Byron Jacobs for their efforts.
In 2022 the Jobava London is very much alive and kicking. It’s started to reap White a
number of full points at club level, where it still contains plenty of surprise value. Overall,
the opening, while an easy set-up to play, continues to pack a definite punch and often
leads to some very enjoyable attacking positions.
Good luck with your adventures with the Jobava London System!

Simon Williams,
Godalming, May 2022

7
 Chapter Four
3...Íf5

1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 d5 3 Íf4 Íf5

W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0p0W0p0p]
[WDWDWhWD]
[DWDpDbDW]
[WDW)WGWD]
[DWHWDWDW]
[P)PDP)P)]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
An active development, but by placing the bishop outside the pawn structure so, Black
encourages us to make one of our favourite advances: f3 then g4.

Game 5
B.Jobava-S.Mamedyarov
World Rapid Championship, Dubai 2014

1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 d5 3 Íf4 Íf5 4 f3

This is one of the key moves in the Jobava London whenever Black plays ...Íf5. By having

72
 3 ...Íf5

not developed the knight to f3, White can play the pawn to there and look towards a quick
kingside pawn advance which both gains space and pushes Black’s pieces back.
4...e6 5 g4 Íg6 6 h4
W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0p0WDp0p]
[WDWDphbD]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDW)WGP)]
[DWHWDPDW]
[P)PDPDWD]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
This natural follow-up threatens to trap Black’s light-squared bishop. As you will be
aware, when I can push ‘Harry’ (the h-pawn), I will, especially when it is objectively the best
move.
6...h6 7 e3 c5
This is the most active response, but is not without risk. As we will see in our next game,
as well as the theory section, 7...a6 is safer.
8 h5
8 Ìb5 is the move that I will be recommending in this position, but we can certainly
learn from Jobava’s approach.
8...Íh7 9 Ìb5
Jobava plays Ìb5 only after getting h5 in. I think a better approach is to keep in reserve
the opportunity of playing h5, as the option will still be there after playing 8 Ìb5 first.
9...Ìa6 10 c3 Íe7 11 Íd3

73
The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

W________W
[rDW1kDW4]
[0pDWgp0b]
[nDWDphW0]
[DN0pDWDP]
[WDW)WGPD]
[DW)B)PDW]
[P)WDWDWD]
[$WDQIWHR]
W--------W
This is a logical move as while Black’s bishop on h7 has been pushed back with tempo, it
is still fairly active on the h7-b1 diagonal.
11...Íxd3 12 Ëxd3 Ìd7 13 Ìe2
The alternative development, 13 Ìh3, may be preferable as it retains the idea of play-
ing g5 if this opportunity presents itself.
13...0-0 14 a4
White has an edge. Jobava’s play has made sense as it restricts active play, which is
Mamedyarov’s preferred type of game.
14...Íf6 15 Íd6 Îe8 16 f4!?
This is an ambitious move, but certainly in Jobava’s style. It shows that this opening can
contain many active possibilities despite what people may think.
16...Ìb6?!
This is too slow and after this move Mamedyarov does not put up much resistance, but
in any case the opening phase is comfortably over and White has prepared his pawn ad-
vances well.
17 g5
Jobava does not need a second invitation to crash through.

74
 3 ...Íf5

W________W
[rDW1rDkD]
[0pDWDp0W]
[nhWGpgW0]
[DN0pDW)P]
[PDW)W)WD]
[DW)Q)WDW]
[W)WDNDWD]
[$WDWIWDR]
W--------W
17...hxg5 18 h6! g6 19 fxg5 Íxg5 20 h7+ Êg7 21 Íe5+ f6?! 22 Ìd6!? Îh8? 23 Ìf4 Íxf4
The knight had to go, but now Black’s kingside will be fatally levered open after all.
24 Íxf4 g5 25 0-0-0 Ìc4 26 Îh6!?
W________W
[rDW1WDW4]
[0pDWDWiP]
[nDWHp0W$]
[DW0pDW0W]
[PDn)WGWD]
[DW)Q)WDW]
[W)WDWDWD]
[DWIRDWDW]
W--------W
Amazing creativity. While the rest of this rapid game wasn’t perfect, White was able to
completely overwhelm the defences and so triumph.
26...Êxh6 27 Ìf7+ Êg7 28 Ìxd8 Îaxd8 29 b3?! Ìb6 30 Îg1 Îxh7 31 e4 Êh8?! 32 e5! gxf4?
33 Ëg6 Îf8 34 exf6 1-0

Game 6
D.Naroditsky-K.Kiewra
US Online League 2015

1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 d5 3 Íf4 Íf5 4 f3 e6 5 g4 Íg6 6 h4 h6 7 e3 a6

75
The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

This is more prudent than allowing White to play Ìb5, which as we have seen, ties
Black up and is a key feature of the Jobava London whenever White is allowed to play it.
8 Íd3 Íxd3 9 cxd3 c5
This seems to play into White’s hands and decision to recapture with cxd3. We’ll see
...Íd6 on move 7 in our next two games and here too 9...Íd6 might be prudent when
White can carry on developing with 10 Ìge2.
10 dxc5 Íxc5 11 d4 Íd6 12 Ìge2 Ìc6 13 Êf2
W________W
[rDW1kDW4]
[DpDWDp0W]
[pDngphW0]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDW)WGP)]
[DWHW)PDW]
[P)WDNIWD]
[$WDQDWDR]
W--------W
This move shows the wealth of possibilities in this line. White’s king should be entirely
safe on f2 and he keeps his rook on h1, which strongly retains the prospect of further king-
side advances. These advances are, at the risk of repeating myself again, a key theme of the
whole opening.
13...Îc8 14 Îc1 b5?!
Another natural looking move, but as in so many lines of this opening, Black should be
more careful about his dark-square weaknesses. It may not be immediately obvious that
the c5-square is a key positional weakness, but that certainly isn’t lost on a player of Naro-
ditsky’s skill.
15 Íxd6 Ëxd6 16 Ìf4!
Not only does this cover the h5-square, which is consistent with a g4-g5 advance and
the rook remaining on h1, but should White wish this knight can be rerouted to c5 via d3.
16...Ìe7 17 g5 Ìd7
Black has defended well, but White still has the initiative and his position is the more
pleasant and easier to play.
18 gxh6!? Îxh6 19 Ëg1 Êf8 20 Ëg5

76
 3 ...Íf5

W________W
[WDrDWiWD]
[DWDnhp0W]
[pDW1pDW4]
[DpDpDW!W]
[WDW)WHW)]
[DWHW)PDW]
[P)WDWIWD]
[DW$WDWDR]
W--------W
White’s play may not be perfect, but the old adage that it’s better to have a plan than
no plan at all continues to stand the test. Naroditsky’s play is consistent as he continues in
attack mode.
20...Ìf6 21 Îhg1 Ìe8 22 h5 Îc4 23 b3 Îc6 24 Ìce2! Îf6 25 Îxc6 Ìxc6 26 Îc1 Ìe7 27
Ìg3 Ìf5 28 Îc8
28 Ìxf5 was stronger.
28...Ëd7 29 Îa8 Ìxg3 30 Êxg3 Ëc6 31 Îd8 Ëc1 32 Ëe5 Ëe1+ 33 Êg2
W________W
[WDW$niWD]
[DWDWDp0W]
[pDWDp4WD]
[DpDp!WDP]
[WDW)WHWD]
[DPDW)PDW]
[PDWDWDKD]
[DWDW1WDW]
W--------W
33...Ëd2+?
The pressure tells just when 33...Îxf4! would have led to a draw.
34 Êh3 Ëb4 35 Ìxd5! 1-0
Black cannot save everything.

77
The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

Game 7
D.Naroditsky-M.Saltvedt
Xtracon Open, Helsingor 2016

1 d4 d5 2 Ìc3 Ìf6 3 Íf4 Íf5 4 f3 e6 5 g4 Íg6 6 h4 h6 7 e3 Íd6

I’ve realised that this move and ...Íb4 ideas are feared the most by white players, but
they need not be. Naroditsky demonstrates why.
8 Ìge2
8 h5!? Íh7 9 Íd3 is a tempting alternative, as we’ll see Rapport demonstrate in our
next game.
8...a6 9 Íxd6 Ëxd6 10 Ìf4 Ìc6
This is probably the best move, but that alone shows how tricky Black’s position is. I
would certainly say it is not natural to allow White to take on g6.
10...Íh7 is the logical alternative, but once again the recurring theme of Black’s dark-
square weaknesses comes to the fore. This theme along with that of kingside expansion
keeps cropping up in this opening and must be learnt from. Here after 11 Íd3 Íxd3 12
Ìxd3 Ìbd7 13 Ëd2 c5 14 0-0-0 0-0-0 we might say that Black has played the opening well.
W________W
[WDk4WDW4]
[DpDnDp0W]
[pDW1phW0]
[DW0pDWDW]
[WDW)WDP)]
[DWHN)PDW]
[P)P!WDWD]
[DWIRDWDR]
W--------W
However, White retains an edge both in position and ease of manoeuvring after 15 h5.
11 Ìxg6 Ëg3+
To most players this would look scary, but it’s not to be feared. Black has no other pieces
to join in the assault.
12 Êd2 fxg6 13 Íd3 0-0 14 Ëe2

78
 3 ...Íf5

W________W
[rDWDW4kD]
[Dp0WDW0W]
[pDnDphp0]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDW)WDP)]
[DWHB)P1W]
[P)PIQDWD]
[$WDWDWDR]
W--------W
The check on g3 by Black has actually helped White, as now the queen’s rook can readily
join the action if required. White’s position is both strong and very playable. The kingside
play presents itself and should be readily appreciated.
14...g5?
Panic, but what else to do? A retreat with 14...Ëd6 would be an admission that things
have already gone awry.
15 hxg5 hxg5 16 Îag1 Ëd6 17 f4 gxf4 18 g5 Ìe4+ 19 Íxe4 dxe4 20 Ëh5 fxe3+ 21 Êc1
Ëxd4 22 g6
W________W
[rDWDW4kD]
[Dp0WDW0W]
[pDnDpDPD]
[DWDWDWDQ]
[WDW1pDWD]
[DWHW0WDW]
[P)PDWDWD]
[DWIWDW$R]
W--------W
White will force mate.
22...Ëd2+ 23 Êb1 1-0

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The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

Game 8
R.Rapport-L.Rindlisbacher
Zurich Open 2014

1 Ìc3
We do not, of course, recommend this move order as it allows Black to reply with 1...e5
when 2 d4 would be a poor choice.
1...d5 2 d4
Back to where we want things!
2...Ìf6 3 Íf4 Íf5 4 f3 e6 5 g4 Íg6 6 h4
This key expansion once again. White threatens h5, trapping the light-squared bishop.
6...h6 7 e3 Íd6 8 h5!?
Rapport is happy to see all the bishops come off, so presses straight ahead rather than
develop with 8 Ìge2, as we’ve just seen Naroditsky do in this position.
8...Íh7
After 8...Íxf4 9 exf4 Íh7 10 Íd3 Íxd3 11 Ëxd3 I prefer White’s position due to his
kingside space and control of the centre.
W________W
[rhW1kDW4]
[0p0WDp0W]
[WDWDphW0]
[DWDpDWDP]
[WDW)W)PD]
[DWHQDPDW]
[P)PDWDWD]
[$WDWIWHR]
W--------W
His plan is to castle queenside, complete development and choose between centralisa-
tion with Îhe1 and perhaps f5 or continuing to push on the kingside. The game actually
reaches the same position.
9 Íd3 Íxf4 10 exf4 Íxd3 11 Ëxd3
Here we are again!
11...Ëd7 12 0-0-0 Ìa6 13 Ëe3 0-0-0 14 Ìh3
White develops this knight to the initially funny looking h3-square, but Rapport truly
understands the position and is planning Ìh3-f2-d3. It’s all about the dark squares on c5
and e5 again. This is such a key theme that every Jobava London player must try their best

80
 3 ...Íf5

to understand it. Indeed, this concept should be kept in mind at all times.
14...Ìe8 15 Ìf2 Ìd6 16 Ìd3 Ìc4
W________W
[WDk4WDW4]
[0p0qDp0W]
[nDWDpDW0]
[DWDpDWDP]
[WDn)W)PD]
[DWHN!PDW]
[P)PDWDWD]
[DWIRDWDR]
W--------W
Most club players may feel that this favours Black, but the queen can simply retreat,
keeping the pressure on the half open e-file (a classic tenet of the best place for a queen: on
a half-open line where it exerts pressure without fear of attack from an opposing rook).
The clever placement of the knight on d3 is further revealed as it protects b2 should Black
find a way of bringing his queen to b6, for example.
17 Ëe1 Ëd6
White’s space advantage is the key here. Rapport does not play perfectly (who does?),
but the opening phase has gone well and he still goes on to win in 32 moves!
18 Ìa4 b6 19 Îh2
A clever rook lift, heading for the e2-square to form a battery, with the rook leading the
queen from the front.
19...Îhe8 20 Îe2 Îe7 21 b3 Ëa3+ 22 Êb1 c5 23 Ëc3
W________W
[WDk4WDWD]
[0WDW4p0W]
[n0WDpDW0]
[DW0pDWDP]
[NDn)W)PD]
[1P!NDPDW]
[PDPDRDWD]
[DKDRDWDW]
W--------W
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The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

23...Îc7?
23...Ìb4 was very hard to see, but also the only way to maintain the tension for Black.
24 dxc5 b5 25 bxc4 Ëxa4 26 Ìb2 Ëb4 27 Ëxb4 Ìxb4 28 cxb5 d4 29 Ìa4 Îb7 30 c4 dxc3 31
Îxd8+ Êxd8 32 Ìxc3 Ìd5 1-0
White is far too many pawns to the good.

Theory
1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 d5 3 Íf4 Íf5 4 f3 e6
This locks the bishop outside the pawn chain, inviting White to attack it.
Black’s main alternative is 4...c6, which should not be critical. As ever, though, it is al-
ways best to be prepared. Again, 5 g4 gains space while chasing Black’s bishop around.
W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0pDW0p0p]
[WDpDWhWD]
[DWDpDbDW]
[WDW)WGPD]
[DWHWDPDW]
[P)PDPDW)]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
Here Black might try:
a) 5...Íg6 6 h4 when Black must decide how to create an escape square for the bishop:
a1) 6...h5 7 g5 (White is already getting on top, as wherever the knight retreats to,
White will play e4, commanding the centre) 7...Ìg8 8 e4 and White has a large space ad-
vantage. He can simply develop his pieces and castle queenside with a pleasant position:
for example, 8...e6 9 Ìge2 Íd6 10 Ëd2 Ìe7 11 a3 was seen in E.Prie-R.Duff, Montpellier
2013, where White won in 31 moves. Here 11 Íxd6 may be even stronger with the idea of
castling queenside. Black is likely to castle kingside, but with the opposite-side castling,
White’s extra space and clear lead in the race against the kings gives Black a worrisome
defensive task: 11...Ëxd6 12 Ìf4 Ìd7 13 0-0-0 0-0 14 Ëh2 and the threat of Ìxg6 (with
the idea of the intermezzo Ìxe7+, winning material) means Black’s best move is the meek
retreat 14...Ëb8, which merely highlights White’s advantage.
a2) 6...h6 is an alternative, but again White already has a comfortable position. More-
over, play continues in line with the general themes of the opening: 7 e3 e6 8 Íd3 (not
committing to an advance of the h-pawn in order to retain the option of g5 with maxi-
mum effect) 8...Íxd3 9 Ëxd3.

82
 3 ...Íf5

W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0pDWDp0W]
[WDpDphW0]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDW)WGP)]
[DWHQ)PDW]
[P)PDWDWD]
[$WDWIWHR]
W--------W
White will continue to develop, connect the rooks and eventually play the advance g4-
g5. After 9...Ìbd7 10 Ìge2 Ëa5 11 a3 (preventing ...Íb4 and also making it harder for
Black to break with ...c5, since after dxc5 Íxc5 White could play b4 with a fork) 11...Îc8 12
Êf2 (castling queenside would be too risky in this situation; the king is perfectly safe on f2)
12...Ëd8 13 Ìg3 there are chances for both sides, but White has a lead in development,
more space and threats of further kingside expansion. Black, for his part, is totally reliant
on the ...c5 break and I definitely prefer White’s position.
b) 5...Íc8 could possibly be Black’s best move, but if this is the case then it is clear that
Black is admitting guilt for his previous moves. White now continues with the plan of king-
side expansion and 6 h4 is in no way taking liberties as Black has lost several tempi with
his bishop. Play might continue 6...Ëb6 7 Ìa4 (this is an important move to remember
against ...Ëb6, and you must be careful that you can play Ìc5 if the knight is subsequently
attacked by a ...b5 pawn thrust) 7...Ëa5+ 8 c3.
W________W
[rhbDkgW4]
[0pDW0p0p]
[WDpDWhWD]
[1WDpDWDW]
[NDW)WGP)]
[DW)WDPDW]
[P)WDPDWD]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
83
The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

The point of White’s play. The queen now guards the knight on a4 and White is poised to
continue with b2-b4, increasing his control over the c5-square. Here 8...e6 (8...b5?! 9 Ìc5 is a
very important option; White’s extra space, lead in development and control of the dark
squares gives him more than a pleasant position) 9 b4 Ëd8 10 e3 supplies an edge and en-
sures that White can answer 10...a5 with 11 b5. White has a space advantage on both sides of
the board and can simply continue developing. His king will be quite safe on f2.
We can now return to the main line, 4...e6:
5 g4
W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0p0WDp0p]
[WDWDphWD]
[DWDpDbDW]
[WDW)WGPD]
[DWHWDPDW]
[P)PDPDW)]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
Again, we see the real point behind 4 f3 as White expands with tempo, seizing some
very useful space in the process.
5...Íg6 6 h4 h6
Once again, the main alternative is 6...h5 when 7 g5 Ìfd7 8 e3 reminds us that one idea
after Black has played ...h6 or ...h5 to safeguard his g6-bishop is to challenge it with Íd3,
since an exchange of bishops will highlight the weakened light squares on the kingside.
W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0p0nDp0W]
[WDWDpDbD]
[DWDpDW)p]
[WDW)WGW)]
[DWHW)PDW]
[P)PDWDWD]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
84
 3 ...Íf5

Here Black has:

a) 8...Íd6 9 Íxd6! has rarely been seen which is why I have given it an exclam. I feel it’s
an important improvement on previous grandmaster games: for example, 9...cxd6 10 Ìh3
(this knight will be strongly positioned on f4) 10...Ìc6 11 Ìf4 Ìe7 12 e4 when White has
extra space and central dominance. It’s more than a pleasant position; indeed, it’s one
which any player of the white pieces should consider to be an opening triumph.
b) 8...c5?! allows our typical Jobava London strike: 9 Ìb5 Ìa6 10 c3 Íe7 11 Íg3. A
clever move, intending Ìh3-f4. Once again the combination of White’s dark-squared
bishop and knight on b5 ties Black up on the queenside. White has an edge both in position
and in future plans.
c) With 8...a6 9 Íd3 White simply exchanges off Black’s most active piece. After 9...Íxd3
I couldn’t resist taking with the pawn in S.Williams-D.Pruess, Internet (blitz) 2020, but here
I think that the straightforward recapture 10 Ëxd3 is stronger. White has ideas of g6 and
e4 to open lines and bringing the knight from g1 to f4 may also cause Black problems on
the kingside and light squares.
d) 8...Íb4!? 9 Íd3 (as played by Jobava himself; White is now ready to complete devel-
opment with Ìge2 and also has ideas of Íxg6 then Ëd3; note too that we should not fear
an exchange on c3) 9...Íxc3+ 10 bxc3 0-0 11 Ìe2 when White has the sneaky idea of Íg3
followed by Ìf4, putting Black under some pressure on the kingside.
7 e3
W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0p0WDp0W]
[WDWDphb0]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDW)WGP)]
[DWHW)PDW]
[P)PDWDWD]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
Again with the idea of playing Íd3 and exchanging Black’s light-squared bishop.
7...c5
This runs into a familiar motif, so Black might prefer the alternative 7...a6, which in
many lines is a prudent choice, preventing any ideas White has of playing Ìb5. After 8
Íd3 Íxd3 recapturing with 9 cxd3!? may look odd, but Black is intending to play ...c5
when we can undouble our pawns and keep two pawns in the centre. Then 9...c5 10 dxc5
Íxc5 11 d4 sees the position now resemble an exchange Slav where Black hasn’t a boxed-

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The J o b a va L o nd o n S ys te m

in light-squared bishop on c8, while White has some extra space on the kingside. Following
11...Íd6 12 Ìge2 Ìc6 13 Íxd6 (the immediate 13 Êf2 was seen in Game 6, Naroditsky-
Kiewra) 13...Ëxd6 14 Îc1 it’s fair to say that this position is roughly equal, as Black again
demonstrates that the best defensive lines often include ...a6. White should not in any way
be unhappy though, as he has a clear space edge and will continue with Êf2 and most
likely g5.
Black also has 7...Íd6 when 8 Ìge2 turned out well in Naroditsky-Saltveldt (Game 7), as
did 8 h5!? Íh7 9 Íd3, refusing to fear an exchange of bishops in Rapport-Rindlisbacher
(Game 8).
8 h5
First White gains some space at the expense of the g6-bishop.
8...Íh7 9 Ìb5
W________W
[rhW1kgW4]
[0pDWDp0b]
[WDWDphW0]
[DN0pDWDP]
[WDW)WGPD]
[DWDW)PDW]
[P)PDWDWD]
[$WDQIBHR]
W--------W
This really is a powerful option which Black should probably not allow. Whenever White
gets the knight to b5 after Black plays ...c5, it dominates Black’s queenside as ...Ìa6 is the
only sensible reply. Simply put, Black is tied up in knots by the knight on b5 and the bishop
on f4.
9...Ìa6 10 c3
This pawn move is a very useful one, preventing any future ...Ëa5+ or ...Ìb4 ideas.
10...Íe7 11 Íd3
Exchanging off Black’s best minor piece.
11...Íxd3 12 Ëxd3 Ìd7
Black was afraid of the g4-g5 push.
13 Ìe2 0-0 14 a4
A strong move, reinforcing the knight’s position on b5. It’s here to stay for at least a
good while yet.
14...Íf6
This allows White to improve the f4-bishop’s position.

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 3 ...Íf5

15 Íd6 Îe8 16 f4
W________W
[rDW1rDkD]
[0pDnDp0W]
[nDWGpgW0]
[DN0pDWDP]
[PDW)W)PD]
[DW)Q)WDW]
[W)WDNDWD]
[$WDWIWDR]
W--------W
With a strong grip on the centre, as well as ideas of playing g5.
16...Ìb6?! 17 g5!
White is clearly better, as we saw back in Game 5, Jobava-Mamedyarov.

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