Jobava London: The Complete Guide
The Jobava London (the Jobava London System) — its main lines, the plans for both sides, and how to tell whether it fits your style.
Starting position and moves
The Jobava London (also known as the Jobava London System) is an opening for White, classified under ECO codes D00. It begins with:
The idea behind the Jobava London
White develops the knight to c3 before committing to c3 pawn structures, keeping options open for a sharp e4 break or a queenside pawn storm with b4-b5. Unlike the classical London System, the early Nc3 signals aggressive intent from move one — White is willing to play f3 and e4, or castle long and attack, rather than settle for the same quiet plan every game.
Main lines and key variations
| Variation | Moves |
|---|---|
| Main Line vs ...d5 | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 Nbd7 4.Nb5 |
| Kingside Attack Setup | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 e6 4.f3 c5 5.e4 |
| vs King's Indian set-up | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.Qd2 Bg7 5.O-O-O |
Main Line vs ...d5: White jumps the knight to b5 to eye c7 and provoke weaknesses, a signature Jobava idea rarely seen in the classical London.
Kingside Attack Setup: White supports a full e4 break with f3, converting the position into a near-Blackmar-Diemer-style attack rather than a quiet positional game.
vs King's Indian set-up: Against a fianchetto, White often castles queenside and storms the kingside with h4-h5, treating the position like a Trompowsky with extra venom.
Plans for both sides
White's plans
- Castle queenside and launch h4-h5 or g4 against a Black fianchetto.
- Support e4 with f3 for a direct central and kingside attack.
- Jump the knight to b5 or e5 to provoke weaknesses around Black's king.
Black's plans
- Strike the center quickly with ...c5 before White finishes regrouping.
- Meet queenside castling with a fast ...b5-b4 counterattack.
- Trade the dark-squared bishops with ...Bh5 or ...Qb6 ideas to ease pressure on b2/d4.
Typical pawn structure
The bishop leaves c1 for f4 before the c-pawn blocks it in, and the c3-knight keeps the option of e4 alive far longer than in the classical London. Because White often castles queenside, the position frequently becomes a race between opposite-side pawn storms rather than the slow manoeuvring typical of London structures — closer in spirit to a Trompowsky or Veresov than to a normal Colle-London game.
Famous practitioners
The Jobava London has been championed by Baadur Jobava, Richard Rapport, Alexander Grischuk. Jobava–Wang Hao, Legnica 2013: Jobava's aggressive handling of his namesake system, castling queenside and overrunning Black on the kingside, helped popularize the line at top level.
Strengths and weaknesses
Who should play the Jobava London?
Attacking players who like the low-theory appeal of London-style openings but want sharper, more combative positions with attacking chances on both sides of the board. It suits club players who enjoy opposite-side castling races and are comfortable improvising rather than following one fixed plan every game.
See how you actually play the Jobava London
Reading about an opening is one thing; knowing whether you handle it well is another. Chess DNA analyzes your real Chess.com and Lichess games with Stockfish, then shows you exactly where you go wrong — including which openings and pawn structures cost you the most rating. Instead of guessing whether the Jobava London suits you, you get a data-backed answer from your own games, plus targeted drills on the specific mistakes you keep repeating. It is free to analyze your first games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Jobava London and the regular London System?
The classical London develops with Nf3, Bf4, e3, c3, and Bd3, aiming for a solid, symmetrical structure. The Jobava London instead plays Nc3 early, before committing the c-pawn, which keeps e4 and queenside castling available and turns the opening into a much sharper, attacking system named after grandmaster Baadur Jobava.
Is the Jobava London good for club players?
Yes — it keeps the low-theory appeal of the London System while offering more attacking chances. Club players can learn one flexible set-up (Nc3, Bf4, Qd2, O-O-O) and reuse it against most Black defences, then attack with h4-h5 or a central e4 break depending on how Black responds.
Why does White play Nc3 before c3 in the Jobava London?
Playing the knight to c3 first keeps the c-pawn free to support a later e4 break and keeps queenside castling in reserve. In the classical London, an early c3 supports d4 solidly but blocks the knight's best square and commits White to a slower, more positional game.
