Jobava London
Main Line
1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4
Overview
The modern anti-...d5 attacking system — combining the Veresov's 2.Nc3 with the London's f4-bishop development. The signature idea is the early Nb5 hop hitting c7 with the threat of Nxc7+ forking queen and rook. Named after Georgian super-GM Baadur Jobava who popularized it from 2015 onward; now played at the elite level by Magnus Carlsen, Wei Yi, Richard Rapport, and Hikaru Nakamura. The active-bishop sister opening to the Veresov Attack and currently the highest-ROI 1.d4 surprise weapon to learn in 2026.
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Open chess.rodeo ↗Related Openings
1. d4 d5 2. c4
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
Frequently asked questions
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What is the Jobava London?
The Jobava London (ECO code D00) is a chess opening that begins with 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4. The modern anti-...d5 attacking system — combining the Veresov's 2.Nc3 with the London's f4-bishop development. The signature idea is the early Nb5 hop hitting c7 with the threat of Nxc7+ forking queen and rook. Named after Georgian super-GM Baadur Jobava who popularized it from 2015 onward; now played at the elite level by Magnus Carlsen, Wei Yi, Richard Rapport, and Hikaru Nakamura. The active-bishop sister opening to the Veresov Attack and currently the highest-ROI 1.d4 surprise weapon to learn in 2026.
What are the main moves of the Jobava London?
The main line of the Jobava London is 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4. It is classified under ECO code D00 and falls in the Closed Game family of chess openings. From this starting position, both sides have well-established plans — White typically continues with natural developing moves while Black follows the response patterns described above.
Is the Jobava London good for beginners?
The Jobava London is a reasonable choice for beginners who want exposure to closed game positions. The main line (1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4) is easy to remember, and the resulting middlegame patterns are well-documented. Focus on understanding the typical pawn structure rather than memorizing 15 moves of theory — engine review of your own games at chess.rodeo is more useful than theory study at the club level.
What ECO code is the Jobava London?
The Jobava London is classified as ECO code D00. ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) is the standard five-letter classification system developed by Chess Informant in the 1970s — A-codes cover flank openings, B-codes 1.e4 replies that aren't 1...e5, C-codes 1.e4 e5 openings, D-codes 1.d4 d5 systems, and E-codes Indian Defenses. You can browse all openings by ECO code in our free opening database.
How do I analyze my Jobava London games for free?
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