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London System · As White · updated October 2026

Play the London System like Maxim Matlakov

A repertoire in the London System built from 90 of Maxim Matlakov's public Chess.com blitz games. At every position you play the move Maxim Matlakov chose most often. Where Maxim Matlakov has fewer than 3 games, the course takes the other top-50 players' most played move, then Stockfish's. Learn a line on the board, then each position comes back in a short daily review until it sticks.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by Maxim Matlakov or Chess.com.

  • Maxim Matlakov was #42 in Chess.com blitz in October 2026 (3,214) and scored 78% against opponents averaging 2,917 in these games.
  • You play Maxim Matlakov's own move in 24 of 40 positions.
  • The whole course is free, and it is updated monthly.

Train lines

Learn a new line move by move. Lines due for review go to your daily review first.

Next: line 1

Free · first 5 lines need no account

Blitz rank

#42

Chess.com

Rating

3,214

Games

90

in this opening

Score

78%

in these games

Opponents

2,917

average rating

More about Maxim Matlakov

Use arrow keys to navigate the board. Press Enter to select a piece, then use arrow keys and Enter to move. Press Escape to cancel a move.
Line 1 after 10 moves

Lines to learn

  1. Line 1 · 5% at top level

    1…d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qc2

    Next

  2. Line 2 · 4% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.Be2 Nc6 7.Nc3

    New

  3. Line 3 · 4% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.e3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 c5 6.c3 Qc7 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.Ne5 Nc6 9.f4

    New

  4. Line 4 · 4% at top level

    1…d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.e3 e6 5.Bd3

    New

  5. Line 5 · 3% at top level

    1…e6 2.Nf3

    New

  6. Line 6 · 3% at top level

    1…f5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3

    New

  7. Line 7 · 3% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.h3 d6 6.Be2

    New

  8. Line 8 · 3% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qc2 g6 7.Nbd2 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.h3

    New

  9. Line 9 · 3% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3

    New

  10. Line 10 · 3% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2

    New

  11. Line 11 · 3% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 d5 5.c3

    New

  12. Line 12 · 3% at top level

    1…d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 O-O 6.Bd3

    New

  13. Line 13 · 3% at top level

    1…Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Nbd2 Nh5 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Bd3

    New

  14. Line 14 · 3% at top level

    1…d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4

    New

  15. Line 15 · 3% at top level

    1…d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.e3

    New

Ordered by how often they come up in top-level games. Learned lines join your daily review.

Maxim Matlakov's main line in the London System, move by move

The most common line at top level: 1…d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qc2.

  1. 1…d5 Reply · Maxim Matlakov's games A common reply here is 1…d5. At top level, this comes up about 34% of the time.
  2. 2.Nf3 Your move · Maxim Matlakov's games Maxim Matlakov played 2.Nf3 in 27 games, scoring 87%.
  3. 2…Nf6 Reply · Maxim Matlakov's games A common reply here is 2…Nf6. At top level, this comes up about 26% of the time.
  4. 3.Bf4 Your move · Maxim Matlakov's games Maxim Matlakov played 3.Bf4 in 20 games, scoring 88%.
  5. 3…c5 Reply · Maxim Matlakov's games A common reply here is 3…c5. At top level, this comes up about 13% of the time.
  6. 4.e3 Your move · Maxim Matlakov's games Maxim Matlakov played 4.e3 in 9 games, scoring 83%.
  7. 4…Nc6 Reply · Maxim Matlakov's games A common reply here is 4…Nc6. At top level, this comes up about 9% of the time.
  8. 5.c3 Your move · Maxim Matlakov's games Maxim Matlakov played 5.c3 in 8 games, scoring 81%.
  9. 5…Qb6 Reply · Maxim Matlakov's games A common reply here is 5…Qb6. At top level, this comes up about 5% of the time.
  10. 6.Qc2 Your move · Maxim Matlakov's games Maxim Matlakov played 6.Qc2 in 5 games, scoring 70%.

Questions about this course

How does Maxim Matlakov play the London System?
After 1.d4, Maxim Matlakov's most common line is 1…d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qc2. At top level it comes up about 5% of the time.
Is this Maxim Matlakov's course?
No. ChessDrills builds it automatically from Maxim Matlakov's public Chess.com blitz games.
What is this London System course based on?
90 of Maxim Matlakov's Chess.com blitz games in the London System as White, against opponents with an average rating of 2,917. Maxim Matlakov scored 78% in them.
How many lines does the course have?
15 lines covering 40 positions, ordered by how often they come up in top-level games. The first 5 lines need no account; saving your progress with an email unlocks the rest, free.
Who is Maxim Matlakov?
GM Maxim Matlakov was ranked number 42 on the Chess.com blitz leaderboard with a rating of 3,214 when this course was built.

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