← Two Knights Defense

Practice: Max Lange Attack

White strikes with d4 and O-O

White plays d4 and O-O aggressively, sacrificing a pawn for a massive attack. The Max Lange Attack is one of the most dangerous and beautiful attacking lines in chess.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. d4 exd4
5. O-O Bc5
6. e5 d5
7. exf6 dxc4
8. Re1+ Be6
9. Ng5 Qxf6
10. Nxe6 fxe6
11. Rxe6+ Kf8
♟

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Key strategic ideas

  • Black's immediate threat of ...Nxe4 forces White to react. The ...Nxe4 capture can be dangerous for White if taken lightly.
  • The main line (4.Ng5 d5) opens the centre and leads to sharp tactical fights with both sides having attacking chances.
  • The Two Knights Defence is one of the most direct and aggressive responses to the Italian Game at any level.

Common mistakes & traps

  • The Fried Liver Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7) sacrifices a knight for a devastating attack on the black king.
  • The Traxler Counter-Attack (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5) ignores White's threat on f7 and instead threatens Bxf2+ checkmate!

Pawn structure notes

After 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5, the centre is open and dynamic. Black often ends up with an isolated pawn or a pawn on d5 against White's mobile centre. Piece activity matters more than structure in most Two Knights lines.

Tips

  • 4.d4 is an aggressive alternative to the immediate 4.Ng5
  • White sacrifices a pawn for a lead in development and a direct king attack
  • The Max Lange was a favourite of many 19th-century attacking players

About this line

This line is rated advanced. Practice it repeatedly until you can play the entire sequence without thinking. The in-app trainer tracks your perfect streaks and celebrates milestones.