Max Lange Defense

The Max Lange Defense (also spelled Max Lange Defense) answers 2. Nc3 with 2...Nc6, developing a piece, guarding e5 and postponing the decision about the king's knight and bishop. Unlike 2...Nf6, it does not prepare a central ...d5 counter to f4. It does remove the tactical drawback of 2...Nf6 3. f4 exf4, though. With no knight on f6, the push e5 gains no tempo, so Black can accept the f-pawn. The position is among the most frequently reached in the Lichess database, ranking 62nd of roughly 3,200 named openings, and the engine regards it as roughly balanced.

In the Lichess sample the most common reply is 3. Nf3, which transposes to the Three Knights Opening and often heads for symmetrical Four Knights positions. The next most popular is 3. Bc4, which scores a little better for White. Against it, 3...Nf6 is the solid choice, and 4. d3 then reaches the Berlin-Vienna Hybrid Variation, a position that several different move orders can produce. The Symmetrical Variation, 3. Bc4 Bc5, invites 4. Qg4, which hits g7 and is hard to meet. The usual recommendations, 4...Kf8 and 4...g6, both leave Black somewhat uncomfortable. The natural 4...Qf6 is a blunder because of 5. Nd5 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1. The white king is safe there, and Qxg7, Nxc7+ and a queen trap with Nh3, d3 and c3 are all threatened. Even so, 3...Bc5 continues to appear in practice.

The main forcing try is 3. f4, which is called the Vienna Gambit when Black accepts with 3...exf4. After 4. Nf3 g5, King's Gambit structures arise in which White often gives up a knight or a bishop on f7 for the initiative. In the Hamppe–Allgaier Gambit, 5. h4 g4 6. Ng5, the knight is offered up. The Hamppe–Muzio Gambit, 5. Bc4 g4 6. O-O, abandons the knight on f3. The Pierce Gambit, 5. d4, is a further option. The Steinitz Gambit, 4. d4 Qh4+ 5. Ke2, accepts a displaced king and is rarely played today. Of the frequent third moves, 3. f4 gives White the best results in the sample.

Quieter alternatives include the Paulsen Variation, 3. g3, which fianchettoes the king's bishop. The Fyfe Gambit, 3. d4, opens the center at once. It is uncommon, and it is the only one of the main continuations after which Black scores better than White. Draws are rare throughout the line.