Antonio Hassan: Level 99 Chess Rival (2394 ELO)

Queen tier · Sharp Master · plays the London System

How Antonio plays

Antonio is a sharp player who wants every game to be a fight. At 28, from Vietnam, he plays the most aggressive response to the London System: ...c5 and ...Qb6 right away, often hoping to grab the b2 pawn or force White into awkward defence. He loves open lines, tactics and positions where his active pieces outweigh structural concerns.

He is happiest in open, dynamic positions with many tactical possibilities, where his quick calculation and willingness to take risks create problems for his opponent. Antonio is less comfortable in closed, slow positions. When White keeps the centre closed and avoids opening lines, his sharp style has no outlet, and he can become impatient trying to force activity that is not there. The calmer the game, the less dangerous he becomes.

At 2394 ELO, Antonio plays at master strength. Outright blunders are rare, so you need a sound opening, a clear plan and accurate calculation in sharp moments. A draw against him is a good result; a win means you played a very good game.

London System: the line Antonio plays

Against the London System (1.d4, Nf3 and an early Bf4) Antonio answers with ...d5 and ...Nf6, then hits the centre with ...c5. The plan is the most direct one Black has: pressure d4, bring the queen to b6 to eye b2, and push ...c4 to gain space on the queenside once White's queen has gone to b3.

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qb3 c4

Learn it move by move: London System walkthrough

How to beat Antonio

  1. Offer the queen trade with Qb3 against ...Qb6. If he trades, axb3 gives you the half-open a-file and a structure where his sharp play has little fuel.
  2. Keep the centre closed with the c3-d4-e3 triangle. Opening lines early plays into his hands, while a closed centre leaves his active pieces without targets.
  3. Play h3 to give your f4 bishop a retreat to h2. His ...Nh5 hitting the bishop is a common way to trade it off and weaken your dark squares.
  4. If you play the London into the book, finish development calmly with Nbd2, Be2 and castling, then aim at the e5 square with Ne5 and f4. The ...c4 advance closes the queenside, so the game is decided in the centre and on the kingside.
  5. The book only answers 1.d4. Open 1.e4 or 1.c4 and he is on their own from move one.

What beating Antonio teaches you

Antonio trains you to keep the position closed against a sharp opponent, taking away the open lines his tactics need.

Neighbours on the ladder