Chess Lesson # 58: Best Opening for White | Opposite Side Castling Attack | London System

Many of you know the London system is a great Chess opening for white. However, you never thought of it as an aggressive set-up that could incorporate the ideas of opposite-side castling attack. In this Chess class, you will learn how to play the London system. You will see how it is possible to play it positionally if that’s what you prefer. However, I will try to convince you to play it aggressively because attacking an opposite-side castled king effectively is a skill you must learn regardless of your style or opening preference. It just doesn’t depend on you. If your opponent castles to the opposite side, an aggressive war is declared and you have to know how to attack!

Join to access members-only content and perks:

You can practice and play Chess for free here (affiliate link):

My Book Recommendations:
First tactics book:
Mixed tactics book:
Advanced tactics book:
Advanced tactics book (II):
Carlsen’s book (excellent):
Kramnik’s book (excellent):
Pirc Defense book:
Endgames book:

Learn how to play Chess the right way from beginner to master level. National Master Robert Ramirez will take you up the pyramid by following a proven Chess training program he has been improving and implementing for over 10 years.

Benefits of Playing Chess:
​- Promotes brain growth
– Increases problem-solving skills
– It exercises both sides of the brain
– Raises your IQ
– Sparks your creativity
– Teaches planning and foresight
– Teaches patience and concentration
– Optimizes memory improvement
– Improves recovery from stroke or disability
– Helps treat ADHD
Chess is an intellectual battle where players are exposed to numerous mental processes such as analysis, attention to detail, synthesis, concentration, planning and foresight. Psychological factors are also present on and off the board; playing Chess stimulates our imagination and creativity. Every single move a player makes is the result of a deep analysis based on the elements presented on the battlefield.

Chess in its essence teaches us psychological, sociological and even moral values. In a Chess game, both players start with the same amount of material and time. The fact that the white pieces move first is considered to be practically irrelevant —especially because a player typically plays one game as white and one game as black. Consequently, the final result of the battle solely depends on each player. It doesn’t matter if you win by taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes or by simply avoiding mistakes yourself. Truth is that Chess is an extremely individual sport and our defeats can only be blamed on ourselves and no one else. And this, in the end, only benefits us because we learn to be and feel responsible for our actions and never come up with excuses to justify ourselves.

We also learn that when it comes to our victories on the board, our opponent’s mistakes play a more significant role than our own skills. Let’s not forget that a Chess game without any mistakes would be a draw. This way, Chess provides us with another valuable life lesson: be humble at all times.

About National Master Robert Ramirez:

With an outstanding background as a professional Chess player and over 8 years of teaching experience, Robert Ramirez brings both his passion and his expertise to the board, helping you believe & achieve!

Robert Ramirez was introduced to the fascinating world of Chess when he was 5 years old and has participated in prestigious tournaments such as the World Open Chess Tournament and the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Championships. Thanks to his performance, he has earned his National Master title from the United States Chess Federation.

Currently, NM Ramirez and his carefully selected team teach at several private schools in the counties of Miami-Dade and Broward and they also offer private lessons. He says the key to their success as Chess coaches is their ability to adapt to every student and to make lessons fun and interesting for students and even their family members.

123 Comments

  1. I just get frustrated because i have played like 100-150 games against computer and lost every time. I really want to learn how to play but computer is too powerful

  2. Wow ! That strategy and the awareness about the decision which side to castle on and then push the other side pawns just allowed me to beat 1300. Also noticing which color squares the other player has and which bishop to think about helps too. What I'm starting to learn is that pawns can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

  3. Wouldn’t h4 tell black that you intend to castle Queen side?!

  4. bro, you are just talking too much and I have to skip to the opening. Just get to the point and you wont be boring

  5. I used the opening and I lost to a 337, I don’t know what I did wrong 😂

  6. A very interesting and instructive explanation of the London system. I have used the London system in the past, but I only castled on the king side. Your plan of opposite side castling makes the opening much more aggressive and exciting. I intend to start using this method of playing the London system immediately to see how it works in practice.

  7. Hi! This is a really interesting idea, I’m trying using it and I have a question.
    What do you suggest against a move like Bd6 early on from black? In the London I usually move my bishep to g3, but doing so it gets in the way of the pawns.
    And btw great explanation as always!

  8. hi coach! I'm back here! I realized that I've already watched the endgame videos so I came here and I will try to master these endgames videos etc. Please upload more! We are hungry

  9. what have i stumbled upon here? i just watched this and the Pirc defense video for black – these are the best chess lessons i've ever seen. great job and please keep it up – subscribed!

  10. What if they don't castle? Do we castle King or Queen side?

  11. Hi Robert, do you think worth it spend 20 min trying to solve a puzzle? I'm asking because yesterday I spent a lot of time to solve a mate in two puzzle, I could find the answer just by looking at the board without making any real moviment, but as I said I think I spent too much time.

  12. What would yoy say is the avg. rating of your students at this point of the course

  13. Hola profesor. Thanks a lot for your lessons. I'm feeling more secure and enjoy the games. Saludos

  14. Mate, I just love the way you express yourself. Putting this ideas in place with nice results so far…thanks a lot and keep it rolling!! 👍👍👍

  15. Hi Robert, what would you play against an early Bf5 with this plan ? Forget the attack on king side and go for the weak B7 with c4 Qb3, or develop your bishop on another square and keep the same strategy (castle queen side and pawn storm) ? Thank you, love all your videos and i became a pirc club member 🙂

  16. Just won my first game with the London. Didnt even need to castle. Pawn storm!

  17. London got me to my first goal of 1200 today! It's like butter. The peices all melt together. Thanks robert!

  18. As player who played over 200+ games with london I can say its good for beginners but be carefull for traps

  19. Hey everyone! I just finished a game playing the london system and it ended with a BANG! 😀
    I think its an (almost) perfect example of how aggressive the london can be! Although I did get a little nervous(because i was playing a 1300!) about my queen towards the end and its not a perfect game; I hope you folks will like it 🙂
    Here is the game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/8399680895

  20. Hello sir I wanna Ask which openings are best for a beginner like me who is 400 rating +
    I have learned the King's Indian defense so far….should I learn london or should master the king's Indian ???
    And when should I learn Gambits??
    Thank you sir !! ur videos helped me alot !!!

  21. Is a 'reverse London' for when you play black a possibility?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.