Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.O-O Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 g6

ECO C56

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.O-O Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 g6.

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

The defining move g6 is chosen by Black on move 9.

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense is a line of the Italian Game. The Italian Game is a chess opening that begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. Read the complete Italian Game guide: what it is, how to reach it, its main variations, how to play against it, and its history.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Scotch 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.