Caissa Codex
C56

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

Chess diagram: Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense after 9…g6

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Statistics from Lichess

6,841 games: White 38.5% / Draw 3.9% / Black 57.6%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
4,6954,695
940940
598598
346346
119119
8282
2929
1313

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 24, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.22 The position is about equal

Best play: 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Rxe6 fxe6 12. f7+ Kh8 13. Nxe6 Qe7 14. Bg5 Qxf7

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, Loman Defense (ECO C56, Open Games) is a variation of the Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit, 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 (9 moves).

In 6,841 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 38.5%, Black 57.6% and 3.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. Nxe6, in 69% of those games.

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How to play against the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense

10. Qf3 scores best for White: 57.1%, with White winning 54.7% and Black 40.5% of 598 games. The most played answer, 10. Nxe6, scores lowest: 36.7% in 4,695 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 10. Qf3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5. O-O Nf6 6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. Re1+ Be6 9. Ng5 g6, the position after Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense (C56)”. Lichess data as of 24 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/italian-game-two-knights-defense-max-lange-attack-loman-defense

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