Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense
In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense is a chess opening classified under ECO code C56. It is reached after the moves 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: 18 moves in, with White to play.
It belongs to the Italian Game family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.
Club players rarely lose the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.