[Event "Max Lange Attack: Max Lange Attack Introduction game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/iHUatqEm/U2ofsIr7"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C56"] [Opening "Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/letsrokzz"] [UTCDate "2022.02.26"] [UTCTime "14:17:25"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/iHUatqEm/U2ofsIr7"] [Orientation "white"] { The Max Lange Attack is named after a german analyst called Max Lange, who developed his ideas in the mid-nineteenth century. The Max Lange leads to immediate sharp play where one slip up can lead to a fatal blow being dealt for one of the players. In this variation, typically, it is the better prepared player that will usually end up on top. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5 { This is the main starting position of the Max Lange. Here there are only two moves worth reviewing. Although let's look at one way this opening can go horribly wrong } { [%cal Yf6g4,Gd7d5,Rf6e4] } 6... Ne4? { An already fatal move for black. The continuing position is from a game by Morphy } 7. Bd5! { A fantastic move. Blocking the d-pawn from protecting the knight meaning that black will need to play f5 to save his knight. This of course exposes his king immediately! } { [%csl Ge4][%cal Gd5e4,Rd7d5] } 7... f5 8. exf6 Nxf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6! Bxf6 11. Re1+ Ne7 12. Ne5 Bxe5 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qxe5 Rf8 15. Nd2 c6 16. Nc4! { ignoring the threat of cxd5 since Nd6# is super strong } 16... d6 17. Nxd6+ Kd7 18. Be6+ Kc7 19. Nxc8+ *