ChessPub Forum - Max Lange Attack current status?

megazord

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Max Lange Attack current status?
12/25/07 at 18:54:39

Anyone know the current status of the max lange attack? I just got a book called A startling chess opening Repertoire by IM Chris Baker. In it he suggests playing the max lange. I will post the main continuation for the Max Lange and the Anti Max lange, so someone can inform of new moves for either side. Thanks in advance.

Max Lange:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qd5 10.Nc3 Qf5 11.Nce4 0-0-0 12.g4 Qe5 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.fxg7 Rhg8 15.Bh6 d3 16.c3 d2 17.Re2 Rd3 18.Qf1 Qd5 19.Rd1 Ne5 20.Nf6 Qf3 21.Nxg8 Qxg4+ 22.Kh1 Qf3+ with perpetual

Anti Max Lange:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qh5 9.Nxe4 Be6 10. Bg5 Bd6 11.c4 0-0 12.c5 Be5 13.Nxe5 Qxd1 14.Raxd1 Nxe5 15. Rxd4 f6 16.Bf4 Bxa2 17.Nc3 Bf7 18.Bxe5 fxe5 19.Rd7+/=

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MNb

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Re: Max Lange Attack current status?
Reply #1 - 12/25/07 at 22:16:00

In my opinion the Max Lange is unclear, fascinating and ...irrelevant.
1. I advise you to visit chesscafe.com and look at Stefan Bücker's Over the horizon; he spend a column on the Max Lange and maintains that 8.fxg7 Rg8 9.Re1+ is the way to go.
2. As Black I just play 5...Nxe4 and in your line Black has some good options: 11.c4 Bb4; 11.c4 h6 12.Nxd6+ cxd6 13.Bf4 Qc5!? and later 15...Nc6 (iso 15...f6).
3. 8...Qa5 is also sound and so is 8...Qd8.

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urusov

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Re: Max Lange Attack current status?
Reply #2 - 12/26/07 at 05:03:19

I have to agree with Mb -- the anti-Max Lange with 5...Nxe4 makes the Max Lange "irrelevant" for master players. That's not to say, though, that you won't have lots of fun with these lines!

If you are serious about learning how to play this stuff right, you should subscribe to Kaissiber and pick up the last six issues or so through Chess Cafe. Lev Gutman has had a great series of articles that cover the Baker repertoire in great depth, showing that White has a slight edge. He has not yet covered all of the anti-Lange lines, but what he has posted so far suggests that life is not easy for the second player. And his improved version of the regular Max Lange (which I like to call the Modern Horowitz variation) is very convincing. Black should basically avoid the Max Lange--though you will find a number of repertoire books that recommend it for Black as the best way to pursue winning chances. So, in other words, you will get to play the Max Lange a lot at the amateur level.

You can get some idea of the lines Gutman recommends here (though he improves on this analysis in Kaissiber #22):
http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/games/java/summer05/horowitz-lange.htm

I added some other links here:
http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/kenilworthian/2007/07/gary-lane-on-koltanowsk...

So, the current status of the Max Lange is very good, and for amateurs that should be enough.

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MNb

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Re: Max Lange Attack current status?
Reply #3 - 12/28/07 at 15:06:24

urusov wrote on 12/26/07 at 05:03:19:

I have to agree with Mb -- the anti-Max Lange with 5...Nxe4 makes the Max Lange "irrelevant" for master players. That's not to say, though, that you won't have lots of fun with these lines!

I fail to see how amateurs can have fun with the Max Lange if everybody who has seen an opening book will play 5...Nxe4.

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Markovich

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Re: Max Lange Attack current status?
Reply #4 - 12/28/07 at 16:32:43

MNb wrote on 12/28/07 at 15:06:24:

urusov wrote on 12/26/07 at 05:03:19:

I have to agree with Mb -- the anti-Max Lange with 5...Nxe4 makes the Max Lange "irrelevant" for master players. That's not to say, though, that you won't have lots of fun with these lines!

I fail to see how amateurs can have fun with the Max Lange if everybody who has seen an opening book will play 5...Nxe4.

Well, Black can have plenty of fun with it, if he wants. The choice is his, not White's.

As for 8.fxg7, I have my doubts that this will lead to White advantage, no matter how many pages of analysis may appear in Kassiber.

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TopNotch

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Re: Max Lange Attack current status?
Reply #5 - 12/29/07 at 01:09:10

Markovich wrote on 12/28/07 at 16:32:43:

MNb wrote on 12/28/07 at 15:06:24:

urusov wrote on 12/26/07 at 05:03:19:

I have to agree with Mb -- the anti-Max Lange with 5...Nxe4 makes the Max Lange "irrelevant" for master players. That's not to say, though, that you won't have lots of fun with these lines!

I fail to see how amateurs can have fun with the Max Lange if everybody who has seen an opening book will play 5...Nxe4.

Well, Black can have plenty of fun with it, if he wants. The choice is his, not White's.

As for 8.fxg7, I have my doubts that this will lead to White advantage, no matter how many pages of analysis may appear in Kassiber.

Agreed, I think this Horowitz line is just equal, but at least it isn't as played out as the more popular mainline. Another plus for the Horowitz line is that it isn't plagued by forced draws here, there and everywhere.

Conclusion: Max Lange attack is useful up to 2200, beyond that it's time for the Ruy, Scotch or Closed Giuoco (pronounced Joko) Piano.

Toppy

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