Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Nf6/4. d4/4...exd4/5. O-O/5...Bc5/6. e5

Max Lange Attack
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b1P3/2Bp4/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5

Max Lange Attack

6. e5

The Max Lange Attack can arise from several different opening lines, including the Two Knights Defense, Petroff's Defense, Scotch Gambit, Bishop's Opening, Center Game, and Giuoco Piano. Two of the most commonly seen move orders are 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 (the Two Knights Defense) 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5, and 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 (the Scotch Gambit) Bc5 5.0-0 Nf6 6.e5. After 6.e5, Black has two main replies. Black's 6...Ng4 is playable, but rarely seen. More common is 6...d5, when the main line continues 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qd5 (9...Qxf6?? 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Qh5+ followed by 12.Qxc5 is a notorious trap) 10.Nc3 Qf5 (10...dxc3?? 11.Qxd5 wins, since 11...Bxd5 is illegal) 11.Nce4 0-0-0 with complex play. Another line for White to try, a critical response, is after 6...d5, White plays 7.Bb5 with strong ideas for both sides, usually resulting in a slight edge for White.

An alternative for White is 8.fxg7 Rg8 9.Bg5, analysed by Lev Gutman and Stefan Bücker in Kaissiber, which they consider to be good for White. Black's usual response is 9...Be7 10.Bxe7 Kxe7.

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Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5

		6	7	8	9	10	11
	1	e5 d5	exf6 dxc4	Re1+ Be6	fxg7 Rg8	Bg5 Be7	Bxe7 Qxe7
	2	e5 Ng4	c3 d5	Bb5 dxc3	h3 cxb2	Bxb2 Nh6	Qc2 Be7