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Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−7.0%

Black isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −6.5% at 1800-1999
1800-19992200-2499
Win%47.9%
Games603
Breakpoint1800-1999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation keeps Black's wins running −7.0% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 603 Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstBlack WinDrawBlack LossGames
1800-1999−6.5%53.1%3.3%43.5%103
2000-2199−9.3%47.8%4.7%47.5%288
2200-2499−16.5%46.0%3.5%50.4%182
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 1800-1999, is −6.5%.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation win rate?

Black wins 47.9% of Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation games, draws 3.9% and loses 48.2%. That rests on 603 games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 1800-1999: −6.5%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Does the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 2000-2199 in Bullet and 1800-1999 in Blitz.

How sharp is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation is extremely sharp: 3.9% of its games are drawn, so 96.1% end with a winner.

Should I play the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation?

Not for the results: Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see.

How do I defend against the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation?

As White, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. Black does not come out ahead with it at any rating we can see.

How reliable is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation data?

This rests on 603 games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.