Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack
The Max Lange Attack arises after 5...Bc5 in the Scotch Gambit, where Black develops the bishop and invites the e5 push. After 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.fxg7 Rg8 the board explodes, with White hunting the king and Black holding an extra piece for a while.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5
- ECO
- C56
- Engine
- +0.24 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,557 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 48.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Push 6.e5 at once; quieter tries like c3 or Bg5 give Black an easy game.
- After ...d5, take on f6 and then on g7, and give check with Re1+ to keep the king in the center.
- Use Bg5 and Nc3 to attack the pinned pieces and the queen on the d-file.
- Keep the initiative: if Black castles long safely, the extra material will tell.
Black
- Answer e5 with ...d5, hitting the c4 bishop and opening lines for Black's pieces.
- After the captures, block Re1+ with ...Be7 and plan long castling to tuck the king away.
- Use ...Rxg7 and ...Qd5 to activate the heavy pieces and harass White's king along the g-file.
- Avoid ...Ng4 if you dislike defensive positions; it leads to the Spielmann Defense.
Plans and pawn structure
After 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.fxg7 Rg8 9.Re1+ Be7 Black has an extra piece and White has a pawn on g7 and an open center. White plays Bg5, Nc3 and Ne4 to attack the e7 bishop and Black's king. Black wants ...Bg4, ...Qd5 and long castling, then uses the g-file. Every move matters, and both sides should know the follow-up well.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.24: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.24 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.fxg7 Rg8
- −0.43 6.c3 Nxe4 7.cxd4 d5 8.dxc5 dxc4
- −0.62 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.e5 Qd8
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,557 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack6.e5 · 705 games
- Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Long Variation6.e5 · rare
How to play against it
As White, play 6.e5 and follow with exf6 and fxg7 after ...d5. Use Re1+ and Bg5 to keep the king pinned in the center. Don't play 6.c3: ...Nxe4 is good for Black. If you are Black, learn the ...Be7 and long-castling plan before you allow this line.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4.
Questions
What are the moves of the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack?
The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5. Its ECO code is C56.
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.24 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,557 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.9%. A razor-sharp line for players who enjoy calculation; whoever knows the theory better usually wins.
What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack?
White pushes e5 to drive the f6 knight away, and after ...d5 both sides take material. White plays for a direct attack with Re1+ and Bg5, while Black tries to castle long with a piece more.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is e5, with c3 and Bg5 close behind. 6.e5 hits the f6 knight and forces Black into the main Max Lange lines.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.