Rapport-Jobava System - Chess Opening
Rapport-Jobava System
Definition
The Rapport-Jobava System is an off-beat yet rapidly growing opening for White that begins with
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 (or 1...d5 2. Nc3) followed almost invariably by 3. Bf4.
It is a hybrid between the traditional London System (where White plays Nf3 and Bf4) and the Veresov Opening (which features Nc3 without Bf4). By combining the early knight on c3 with the dark-square bishop outside the pawn chain, White aims for fast development, early kingside pressure, and the possibility of an e2-e4 break.
Typical Move Order
There are two principal transpositions:
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4
- 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4
From here plans often include:
- e2-e3 (solid) or e2-e4 (aggressive)
- Qd2 and long castling for a pawn-storm
- h2-h4-h5, sometimes reinforced by g2-g4
- Rapid central tension with f2-f3 followed by e4
Strategic Ideas
- Piece play over theory: Because the c-pawn is still on c2, theory is lighter than in the Queen’s Gambit or standard London, allowing creative players to leave main-line preparation.
- Control of e5: The bishop on f4 and knight on c3 both eye e5, often enabling a quick e2-e4 or Nf3-e5 jump.
- Kingside initiative: The system frequently leads to opposite-side castling, where White launches pawns on the h- and g-files at Black’s king.
- Flexible pawn structure: Depending on Black’s response, White can choose between a solid Carlsbad-style pawn skeleton (d4-e3-c2) or a sharper center with d4-e4.
Historical Development
The line was sporadically tested in the 1990s, but it exploded in popularity in the 2010s thanks to two swash-buckling grandmasters:
- Baadur Jobava (GEO) began employing it against elite opponents around 2012, scoring several spectacular wins—including a memorable upset of Fabiano Caruana at the 2014 Tromsø Olympiad.
- Richard Rapport (HUN) adopted the setup shortly afterward, refining many lines and using it against world-class opposition (e.g., wins over Anish Giri, 2016; Wesley So, Tata Steel 2017).
Their combined success led to the twin name Rapport-Jobava System, though it is also marketed as the “Jobava-London.”
Illustrative Games
- Jobava – Caruana, Olympiad (Tromsø) 2014
- Rapport – So, Tata Steel 2017
Both games vividly display the kingside spearheads and tactical melee characteristic of the opening.
Critical Lines for Black
- …c5 early: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 looks logical; White can reply 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nb5! putting pressure on c7.
- …g6 setups: Black may fianchetto, aiming for …Bg7, …d6, and break with …e5 later. White can continue with Qd2, O-O-O and h2-h4.
- …e6 & …c5 (a Semi-Tarrasch feel): Leads to IQP positions where the active bishop on f4 compensates for structural concessions.
Why Choose the Rapport-Jobava?
- Surprise weapon: Many opponents face it rarely and may drift into inferior setups quickly.
- Rich middlegame complexity: Ideal for players who relish tactical, unbalanced struggles over rote memorization.
- Transferable ideas: Patterns learned here—such as h-pawn storms and e4 breaks—appear in numerous other attacking openings.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- During the 2014 Olympiad, Jobava’s win over Caruana with this line capped a 2800-performance on board one for Georgia.
- Richard Rapport once quipped, “The engine hates my openings—until move 25.” The Rapport-Jobava epitomizes that philosophy: initial engine skepticism often turns into admiration once the tactics erupt.
- At club level, the system is sometimes jokingly called the “Lunatic London” because of its willingness to throw the g- and h-pawns forward before castling.
- Statistically, databases show that the move 3. Bf4 after 2. Nc3 scores roughly 53 % for White in master play—comparable to mainline Queen’s Gambit—but with a fraction of the theory.
Concluding Advice
If you enjoy initiative-driven chess and dislike heavy memorization, the Rapport-Jobava System can be a powerful addition to your repertoire. Study a handful of thematic ideas—Nb5, h-pawn pushes, and timely e4 breaks—and you will often steer the game into original territory by move six.