The Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation is a variation of the Italian Game, catalogued as ECO C56. The line runs 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. Nce4 Bf8, reaching the position shown below after 22 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after 11 moves. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted; White has doubled pawns on the f-file; Black has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black has the bishop pair.
On the Italian Game generally: A classical opening focusing on rapid development and control of the center with pieces.
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The Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation goes 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. Nce4 Bf8. It is a variation of the Italian Game and is catalogued as ECO C56.
The Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation is ECO C56. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Italian Game.
Stockfish evaluates the position 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. Nce4 Bf8 at +0.88 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted; White has doubled pawns on the f-file; Black has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black has the bishop pair.