Jobava London
1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 — the Jobava London combines the London bishop setup with an early knight to c3, creating immediate pressure and avoiding main-line theory. Dynamic and unpredictable.
Starting moves
The Jobava London typically begins with the following sequence. In GoWinChess you'll drill these moves until they're automatic — so you never have to think twice in the opening.
What you'll learn
This repertoire includes 39 annotated lines (9 beginner, 18 intermediate, 12 advanced) covering the most important variations and the tactical traps that catch unprepared opponents. You progress from forgiving beginner lines up to the sharpest main-line theory. A few of them:
- Jobava London Beginner: ...c5 (7.Ngf3)
- Jobava London Beginner: ...c5 (7.Nxc5)
- Jobava London Beginner: ...c5 (7.Nxc5)
- Jobava London Beginner: ...c5 (7.Bxe7)
- Jobava London Beginner: ...c5 (7.Qh5+)
- Jobava London Beginner: ...c5 (8.Ngf3)
How to study the Jobava London
Reading about an opening isn't the same as remembering it over the board. GoWinChess uses spaced repetition — the same memory science behind Anki and medical-school study — to schedule each position right before you'd forget it. You Learn a line, then Drill it from memory, then the algorithm brings it back on the perfect day. New to the game? Start with Learn Chess in 15 Minutes.
Learn the Jobava London for free
Drill every line with spaced repetition. Start with one opening free — no credit card.
Start the interactive course →Play the other side of this matchup
Study how to handle the Jobava London from the other side of the board.
Related openings
The most popular opening among club players for good reason: develop Nf3, Bf4, e3, and castle — regardless of what Black does. Minimal theory. Maximum stubbornness.
The classic 1.d4 opening. White offers c4 to seize the center. Whether Black accepts or declines, White gets rich positional play. One of the most respected openings in all of chess.
White fianchettoes the bishop on g2, creating long-term pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal. The Catalan is one of the most enduringly dangerous openings at elite level — subtle and deep.
Black accepts the gambit pawn with 2...dxc4, giving White a strong center. The plan is to reclaim the pawn or build a dominant position while Black scrambles to consolidate.