Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense
The Spielmann Defense is 6.e5 Ng4 in the Max Lange Attack, where Black dodges the e5 pawn by jumping the knight to g4. White wants to protect e5 with Bf4 and kick the knight with h3, while Black eyes f2 and hopes to undermine the e5 pawn with ...d6.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 Ng4
- ECO
- C56
- Engine
- +0.62 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 493 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 56.8%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play Bf4 to guard e5, then h3 to send the g4 knight back to h6.
- After ...Nh6, consider Bxh6 to break up Black's kingside pawns and leave h6 and h7 weak.
- Use c3 to attack d4 and open lines; if Black pushes ...d3, take it later with the queen.
- Watch f2: the c5 bishop and g4 knight both target it, so keep the rook on f1.
Black
- Castle short quickly and plan ...d6 to undermine the e5 pawn and free the c8 bishop.
- After h3, retreat the knight to h6 and accept doubled pawns if White takes on h6.
- Answer c3 with ...d3, a pawn wedge that slows White's queenside development.
- Use ...Qf6 or ...Qe7 to add pressure to f2 and e5 at the same time.
Plans and pawn structure
White keeps a space edge with the e5 pawn and aims at Black's kingside. After 7.Bf4 O-O 8.h3 Nh6 9.Bxh6 gxh6 10.c3 Bb6 Black has the bishop pair but broken pawns in front of the king. White plays Nbd2, cxd4 and Qd3 to target h7 and h6. Black wants ...d6 to free the bishops and ...Kh8 with ...Rg8 to use the g-file.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.62: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.62 7.Bf4 O-O 8.h3 Nh6 9.Bxh6 gxh6
- +0.57 7.c3 d3 8.Bf4 d6 9.exd6 cxd6
- 0.00 7.Bd5 O-O 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.h3 Nh6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
493 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.8%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As White, guard e5 with 7.Bf4 and chase the knight with h3. Take on h6 if allowed to wreck Black's kingside. Don't overlook f2 while the knight sits on g4, since ...Nxf2 tricks appear when the rook leaves. Avoid 7.Bd5, which lets Black equalize easily.
Questions
What are the moves of the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense?
The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 Ng4. Its ECO code is C56.
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.62 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 493 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.8%. A practical choice for Black players avoiding heavy theory, though White keeps a comfortable edge with sensible moves.
What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense?
Black avoids the main ...d5 lines by moving the knight to g4. White protects e5 with Bf4, chases the knight with h3, and may take on h6 to weaken Black's kingside.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Bf4, with c3 and Bd5 close behind. 7.Bf4 protects e5 and prepares h3, after which the g4 knight has to retreat to h6.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.