Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack

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

ECO C56

The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5.

It is catalogued under code C56 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Bc5 is chosen by Black on move 5.

2 named continuations branch from this position, including the Long Variation and the Spielmann Defense.

Named variations

• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Long Variation — ECO C56
• Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense — ECO C56

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Scotch Gambit course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.