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Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack

449K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

51.0%

45%55%
Floor50.9%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 51.1%.

Measured over 449K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 4.4 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 449K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
449K
Best context
57.6% at 0-999 Rapid
Worst context
43.6% at 2500+ Blitz
Average game length
33 moves
Games that end decisively
95.6%
Draws
4.4%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 18.6% · UltraBullet best · Rapid worst

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It falls away as the rating rises: 46.5% at 0-999, 39.5% at 2500+.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+—

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 13.7% expected score (4 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (1,995 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 55.8% expected score (2,967 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 57.6% expected score (2,536 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 54.0% expected score (36 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.8% expected score (14 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (3,912 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (6,493 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 53.7% expected score (3,519 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 51.8% expected score (82 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 31.1% expected score (17 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (7,550 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (11,815 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 54.7% expected score (5,548 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 58.3% expected score (186 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 33.1% expected score (28 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (11,476 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.0% expected score (20,564 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 54.8% expected score (8,258 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 55.0% expected score (361 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 37.3% expected score (22 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (15,332 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.7% expected score (39,062 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.9% expected score (12,465 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 53.2% expected score (884 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 23.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (20,849 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (65,995 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (19,734 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 52.7% expected score (1,333 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 44.6% expected score (17 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (22,859 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (64,334 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (16,923 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 49.4% expected score (683 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 67.7% expected score (7 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 46.9% expected score (26,944 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 46.2% expected score (35,650 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 47.4% expected score (7,365 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 41.2% expected score (129 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.4% expected score (8,936 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (2,379 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 41.0% expected score (197 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 27.8% expected score (3 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Italian Game
55.0%
Variations (5)
Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense
51.3%
Italian Game: Paris Defense
50.2%
Italian Game: Giuoco Piano
47.0%
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening
50.6%
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal
49.3%
Continuations (2)
Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense
57.8%
Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Long Variation
50.2%
Analyze Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack scores 51.0% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 50.9% and 51.1% — from 449K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
449K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate?

Playing the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Black wins 48.8%, draws 4.4% and loses 46.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.0%. It rests on 449K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack perform best?

The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack performs best for Black at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 55.2% (7.5K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 51.1% in Blitz (249K games) against 53.8% in Rapid (77K games).

How sharp is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack?

The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack has a sharpness score of 95.6 (very decisive), meaning 95.6% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 53.8%, draws 2.7% and loses 43.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.2%. It rests on 7.5K Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 50.0%, draws 2.4% and loses 47.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.2%. It rests on 14K Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 50.7%, draws 2.5% and loses 46.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 25K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 51.2%, draws 2.8% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.6%. It rests on 41K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 51.4%, draws 3.6% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 68K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 50.1%, draws 4.4% and loses 45.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 108K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 48.0%, draws 5.2% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.6%. It rests on 105K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 43.6%, draws 6.0% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.6%. It rests on 70K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 41.6%, draws 6.6% and loses 51.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.9%. It rests on 12K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 35.6%, draws 2.1% and loses 62.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 36.7%. It rests on 115 Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 47.4%, draws 3.0% and loses 49.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.9%. It rests on 120K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 48.7%, draws 4.8% and loses 46.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.1%. It rests on 249K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 51.1%, draws 5.3% and loses 43.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.8%. It rests on 77K Lichess games.

What is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 48.4%, draws 7.7% and loses 43.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.3%. It rests on 3.7K Lichess games.

Is the Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack a good opening?

The Italian Game: Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack is about level. Across all ratings, Black wins 48.8% of its games and loses 46.8%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.