Max Lange Attack

Good gosh! I hadn't played a variation for maybe 5 years. The first time I ran into it, I had totally forgotten the lines.
I'm a repertoire player with pretty narrow openings
I know, or knew the lines
After the game, which I won, I watched a quick video. I went out of book first move
Question, would either GP or another Superior player care to post some Max Lange Attack lines?
I might look at the games explorer, probably find some of my old games.
Help

@Gambrel
I'd be interested in seeing the moves from your game, at least up to the point just after you left the book line. I ask because if your move was playable, then leaving the book might not have hurt you or might even have helped you (by presenting an unfamiliar position to the opponent).

6. c3
Right after I played it I remembered 6. e5... d5 then 7. exd or what I usually played 7. exf6. I think it was called The Modern Horowitz Variation.
Terrible game, my apologies to Cassia

@Gambrel
In your game after 7...O-O,



did you consider 8. e5. It certainly seems logical, especially after White has suppressed Black's central counter ...d5. Then 8...Ng4 9. Qd5 seems to give White considerable compensation.

I haven't looked it up, but I suspect Black needs to play 7...d6 instead of 7...O-O.

It seems that your deviation from book, albeit unintentional, still gave White ample opportunities to outplay the opponent.

@fmdavidhlevin said
@Gambrel
In your game after 7...O-O,

[fen] r1bq1rk1/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/2b5/2B1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - - - [/fen]

did you consider 8. e5. It certainly seems logical, especially after White has suppressed Black's central counter ...d5. Then 8...Ng4 9. Qd5 seems to give White considerable compensation.

I haven't looked it up, but I suspect Black needs to play ...[text shortened]... ation from book, albeit unintentional, still gave White ample opportunities to outplay the opponent.

@Gambrel
I thought I'd add that I try to maintain an awareness of whether a position calls for sharp play. After 7...O-O in your game, Black is cramped but structurally sound and ahead by a pawn. So, it seems incumbent upon White to play sharply before Black can consolidate. If White is thinking this way, then a move like 8. e5 would more readily come to mind.

@fmdavidhlevin said
@Gambrel
I thought I'd add that I try to maintain an awareness of whether a position calls for sharp play. After 7...O-O in your game, Black is cramped but structurally sound and ahead by a pawn. So, it seems incumbent upon White to play sharply before Black can consolidate. If White is thinking this way, then a move like 8. e5 would more readily come to mind.

Hi Gambrel,

Rather than go mainline with the Max Lange, which if allowed you have to
assume by allowing it your opponent knows something about it.
That variation with c3 is a good line to tuck up your sleeve because it can be
be reached with via the Two Knights/Giuoco Piano/Scotch and in some cases
your opponent will not know they have walked into a sub variation of the Max Lange.

From a Giuoco Piano

@greenpawn34 said
Hi Gambrel,

Rather than go mainline with the Max Lange, which if allowed you have to
assume by allowing it your opponent knows something about it.
That variation with c3 is a good line to tuck up your sleeve because it can be
be reached with via the Two Knights/Giuoco Piano/Scotch and in some cases
your opponent will not know they have walked into a sub variati ...[text shortened]... stead of the 'expected' 6. cxd4 White plays.} 6. O-O {And we have transposed into your game.} [/pgn]

I guess what I'm having a problem with is I forgot the "bread and butter" lines I had committed to memory maybe 10-15 years ago. The other day I forgot a
4 digit access code I use pretty much every day. It came to me in a minute but still.
I'm just somewhat pleased that FM David and GP think I still choose a reasonably sound move.

Since FM David told me about missing e5, I had several games where e5 seemed a key move.
@gambrel said
Notice how long my Q is stationed on c3