Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C56), reached after 11 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5.

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6…d5 3 lines
6…Ng4 1 line
- C56 Krause Variation

About this opening

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C56. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 11 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5.

It belongs to the Italian Game family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Two Knights Defense → Max Lange Attack line). The immediate parent line is Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, transitioned via 6.e5.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.d4 exd4, 4.Bc4 Nf6, 5.O-O Bc5, 6.e5. From this position 2 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.