Caissa Codex
C56

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Berger Variation

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Berger Variation after 13…O-O-O

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Statistics from Lichess

990 games: White 46.2% / Draw 3.9% / Black 49.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.55 White is slightly better

Best play: 14. f5 Bxf5 15. gxf5 Qxf5 16. fxg7 Rhg8 17. Kh1 Rxg7 18. Rf1 Qd5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Berger Variation (ECO C56, Open Games) is a variation of the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, reached after 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 Qg6 12. Nce4 Bb6 13. f4 O-O-O (13 moves).

In 990 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.2%, Black 49.9% and 3.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 14. f5, in 98% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5…Bc5 6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. Re1+ Be6 9. Ng5 Qd5 10. Nc3 Qf5 11. g4 Qg6 12. Nce4 Bb6 13. f4 O-O-O, the position after Italian Game: Scotch Gambit also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Berger Variation (C56)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-max-lange-attack-berger-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-max-lange-attack-berger-variation