27. Max Lange Attack (5...Bc5 6.e5)
After 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Bc5 White plays 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5: the e6-bishop is pinned and the f6-pawn threatens g7. Black has an extra pawn, White the initiative.
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 Qd5 10.Nc3 Qf5 11.g4
Move by move
- 1.e4 – Occupies the centre and frees the queen and the f1-bishop, which in the Italian Game goes to c4 to aim at the weak f7 point.
- 1...e5 – Black contests the centre at once: the e5 pawn controls d4 and f4 and opens the diagonal for the f8-bishop and the queen.
- 2.Nf3 – Development with an attack: the knight hits the e5 pawn, controls d4 and prepares quick kingside castling.
- 2...Nc6 – Defends e5 while developing and adds control of d4, the square White wants for a pawn.
- 3.Bc4 – The Italian Game move: the bishop aims at f7, defended only by the king, and controls d5, making ...d5 harder to achieve.
- 3...Nf6 – The Two Knights Defence: instead of 3...Bc5 Black develops the knight and immediately attacks e4. It is an active choice, but it allows White the 4.Ng5 attack against f7.
- 4.d4 – White opens the centre at once instead of 4.Ng5: after 4...exd4 it plays for development and open lines, even at the cost of leaving a pawn.
- 4...exd4 – Black captures the d4-pawn: this is the main reply. White does not recapture at once, but castles and aims at the e-file.
- 5.O-O – White castles, leaving the e4-pawn en prise: if ...Nxe4, Re1 immediately attacks the knight with the black king still in the centre.
- 5...Bc5 – Black defends the d4-pawn with the bishop instead of taking e4: this enters the Max Lange Attack, one of the sharpest lines of the Italian.
- 6.e5 – The push of the Max Lange Attack: the pawn attacks the f6-knight, which has no comfortable squares, and forces Black to counterattack with ...d5.
- 6...d5 – The forced counterattack: Black attacks the c4-bishop and leaves the f6-knight en prise, counting on regaining the piece.
- 7.exf6 – White takes the knight: for a moment it is a piece up, but its c4-bishop is attacked and the f6-pawn threatens fxg7.
- 7...dxc4 – Black regains the piece and keeps the extra d4-pawn; the white f6-pawn, however, threatens fxg7 and the black king is still in the centre.
- 8.Re1+ – Check on the open e-file: Black must interpose the bishop on e6, because with 8...Kf8 the king would stay exposed to Bg5 and fxg7+.
- 8...Be6 – The main parry: the bishop blocks the check but stays pinned on the e-file, a target for Ng5.
- 9.Ng5 – The knight attacks the pinned bishop on e6, now attacked by rook and knight and defended only by the f7-pawn: Black must reinforce it.
- 9...Qd5 – The queen defends the e6-bishop and at the same time the c4 and d4 pawns, keeping Black's position together.
- 10.Nc3 – The knight develops attacking the d5-queen: White gains a tempo and prepares Nce4, which attacks the c5-bishop and supports the f6-pawn.
- 10...Qf5 – The queen moves while still defending the e6-bishop, and attacks the g5-knight.
- 11.g4 – The pawn drives the queen away from the defence of e6 and the control of g5. After 11...Qg6 White continues with Nce4 and f4-f5, Black castles long: a very sharp position.
How to exploit the position
A very sharp position: Black has an extra pawn (c4 and d4 advanced) and usually castles long; White has the e6-bishop pinned, the f6-pawn against g7 and active pieces, but with g4 has weakened his own king.
- Nce4 centralises the knight, attacks the c5-bishop and supports the f6-pawn.
- f4-f5 attacks the e6-bishop pinned on the e-file.
- fxg7 at the right moment opens lines and forces the h8-rook to move.
- The black c4 and d4 pawns advance quickly: give Black no time, every move must create a threat.
Master tips
In the Max Lange rhythm matters
White is a pawn down: every move must attack (Re1+, Ng5, Nc3, g4) or Black's material advantage will prevail.