ECO C56 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. e5+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack (C56), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. e5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.406. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. fxg7 Rg8 9. Re1+ Be6 10. Bg5 Be7
  2. −0.386. Nbd2 O-O 7. e5 Ng4 8. Re1 d5 9. exd6 cxd6 10. Nb3 Bb6
  3. −0.436. c3 Nxe4 7. cxd4 d5 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Qe2 Qd3 10. Re1 f5

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. e5 for White, continuing d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. fxg7 Rg8 9. Re1+ Be6 10. Bg5 Be7. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 6. Nbd2 (−0.38) and 6. c3 (−0.43).
Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack?
C56. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).