Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.Bf4 e6

Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.Bf4 e6

Definition

The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.Bf4 e6 is a branch of the Queen’s Pawn Game that commonly transposes into the London System. Here White forgoes the more direct 2.c4 (Queen’s Gambit) and instead develops the king’s knight to f3 before clarifying the central pawn structure. Black answers with an early …Bf5—often called the “Modern” or “Accelerated” London approach—followed by the solid …e6. The resulting position is quiet but bristling with strategic tension: both sides have completed two harmonious developing moves without committing their central pawns beyond d4 and d7.

Typical Move Order

The most common path is:

1. 1. d4 Nf6
2. 2. Nf3 Bf5
3. 3. Bf4 e6

From here play often continues 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 or 4.e3 c5 5.Nbd2 Nc6, but the opening is flexible and can transpose into other Queen’s Pawn structures (Torre, Colle, even certain Queen’s Gambit Declined lines after …d5).

Usage in Practical Play

• Club and Rapid Play: The line is popular at club level because it avoids heavy theory yet yields a solid setup.
• Professional Circuit: Top grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Gata Kamsky, and Baadur Jobava have employed this structure to great effect, often aiming for long middlegames where understanding trumps concrete memorization.
• Online Blitz: Its “plug-and-play” nature makes it a frequent choice in faster time controls.

Strategic Themes

• Stable Center: White’s pawn chain d4–e3–c3 (or d4–e3–c4) provides a rock-solid center and frees the light-squared bishop.
• Minor-Piece Battle: Both bishops are developed outside the pawn chain early, so exchanges on d6, e7, g6, or even h7 can shape the game dramatically.
• Slow-Burn Pressure: White usually castles short, doubles rooks on the e- and h-files, and looks for kingside attacks after h2-h3 and g2-g4 (the Jobava or Barry-style approach).
• Black’s Counterplay: The main countermeasure is striking in the center with …c5 and/or …e5, sometimes followed by the thematic break …Qb6 pressuring b2 and d4 simultaneously.

Historical Significance

Although London-type setups date back to the 19^th century, the early …Bf5 refinement became fashionable in the 1980s. Its modern popularity skyrocketed after Carlsen’s repeated successes with the line in elite events (e.g., Tata Steel 2016, 2017). It is now part of virtually every opening repertoire course on the London System.

Model Game

Carlsen vs. Vachier-Lagrave, Paris Blitz 2017
A textbook illustration of White’s slow kingside squeeze.

White gradually provoked weaknesses (…h6, …g5) and converted the endgame with surgical precision, showcasing the London’s latent attacking potential.

Key Sub-Variations

• 4.e3 c5 5.c4 – the Botvinnik-Carlsbad plan, heading for an IQP (isolated queen’s pawn) after …d5.
• 4.c4 – immediate clash with the Queen’s Gambit idea; the bishop on f5 can become awkward after Qb3 or Qb1.
• 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e3 – transposes to a Torre/Jobava mix, where White may sacrifice the b2-pawn for activity.

Typical Plans & Motifs

• Minority Attack: a2-a4-a5 when Black locks the center with …d5.
• Kingside Pawn Storm: h2-h3 and g2-g4 targeting the f5-bishop and the g-file.
• Central Break: c3-c4 or e3-e4 to seize space once development is complete.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Mikhail Botvinnik famously quipped that the London “puts Black to sleep before strangling him gently.”
• In online blitz, the move order is sometimes humorously called the “Car-Jobava System,” reflecting its two most visible advocates.
• According to the Chess.com Master games database (2023), White scores a respectable 56 %+ from over 20 000 recorded games in this exact position.

Summary

The line 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 Bf5 3.Bf4 e6 offers a low-maintenance, strategically rich alternative to the heavily analyzed Queen’s Gambit. White aims for gradual pressure and lasting piece activity, while Black must strike in the center before structural weaknesses accumulate. Whether you are a weekend warrior or an aspiring grandmaster, mastering this deceptively calm position is an excellent way to deepen your positional understanding and broaden your opening repertoire.