The Max Lange Attack

I've recently taken an interest in the Max Lange attack, but the only problem is that I know nothing about the Italian Game outside this line.  In playing the M.L.A. against 3... Bc5, this line gives me trouble.

I'd appreciate any advice on how I can deviate or how to play the end position.

Thanks in advance.

after Bc4 Bc5 you can't transpose into the max lange attack unless your opponent is very cooperative so just stick to Bc5 c3 Nf6 d4 exd cxd bb4+ and here my favorite is Nc3 whereas the main line goes Bd2

After reading Seirawan's opening book, I tried playing the Max Lange too. And I also ran into this line following his suggestion. I tried forcing it for a while but I think the resulting position is just plain bad for white.

Instead, now when I want to play the Max Lange, I use this move order, which won't guarantee a Max Lange, avoids the d6 and Bg4 line.

@Gonnosuke:  I'm sorry, I'm not entirely sure to which line the 5... Nxe4 refutation belongs.  Could you please clarify?

Also, thanks to everyone who responded.

Edit:  Is this what you meant?

5...Nxe4 IS the anti-Max Lange.  And it's black's choice, if white insists on playing down Max Lange lines.  What G. is advising is simply the modern treatment by white against the two knights defense.

Not sure that's relevant here, as it is an independent try against 3...Nf6, when the OP is looking for a complementary attempt against 3...Bc5.

I think white's most obvious complement in the spirit of the Max, and still played at the GM level, is the Evans gambit.

1. e4e5 2. Nf3Nc6 3. Bc4Bc5 4. b4 (intending 4...Bxb4 and 5.c3 followed by 6.d4).

I think most players who stick with the Italian game either end up combining the swashbuckling combo of the Evans and 4.Ng5 systems against the two knights, or choose calmer waters with c3/d3 systems against both black replies.

Thanks to everyone!  I was thinking about the Evans Gambit, and now I'll definitely give it a shot.  The information about the anti-Max Lange was quite helpful for my purposes as well.  I think I will give the normal move order a shot, and if I run into 5...Nxe4 too often I will make some adjustments. 

The bishop's opening move order is interesting, and 2...Bc5 will usually let me transpose into an Evan's Gambit. 

Two positions stood out when browsing the possibilities with the Opening Pro app. 

I want to know how strong the Max Lange-esque positions are after 4...Bc5.  I should have been more clear on that point. 

I'm sold on the Urusov, though it looks perfect for my style. 

Edit:  I misunderstood. I thought 4...Nxe4 alone was the Urusov, but after looking at Gonnosuke's link I think I can find what I need.

Thanks!

This has been a fascinating lesson in transposition.  The line that I hated so much becomes completely playable with black's king's knight developed instead of the queen's knight.  1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. 0-0 d6 6. c3 Bg4

is not nearly as bad for white as the original line because white can play cxd4.  Quite an eye-opener! 

Again, thank you to everyone! I think I've now assembled my repetoire against 1... e5.

In max lange attack e4 e5, nf3 nc6, bc4 bc5, d4 e*d4, 0-0 d6, c3 bg4....... Now instead of d*c3 black played bg4 and creating annoying pin. If now white plays Qb3 then black can reply with B*f3, now if g*f3 then blacks Ne5 protecting f7 pawn and attacking Bc4. If after blacks B*f3 white takes on f7 then black can play Kf8, B*g8 R*g8, g*f3 Ne5, f4 Nf3+. In this white lost it's active bishop on c4 for bla k's inactive Ng8 and whites all other pieces are yet to develop themselves wbereas black's knight is active on board.

Looks like the OP is away from the site for long. But for the benefit of learning, from OP's line, at move 9 for white, why not cxd4, attacking both black bishops, definitely gaining one of them?

 9...Nxd4

Use the scotch to transpose to a max Lange. you will get the max Lange more often than not.