5…Nf6Black can avoid the complications of the Max Lange attack by 5...P—Q 3. In that case White cannot recover the pawn, and in order to develop his Q Kt effectively, would have to play P—B 3, aiming at rapid development in return, after 6...P x P; 7 Kt x P. But Black can frustrate this plan either by pushing his pawn to Q 6, so that the Q Kt is barred from the square B 3, or by playing B—K Kt 5 while this probable continuation: 7 Q—Kt 3, B x Kt; 8 B x P ch, K—B 1; 9 P x B, Kt—B 3, and Black has the better game, for White's King's side is broken up and his pieces undeveloped, while Black has prospects of attack on the open K B file.
9.Ng5This is the typical position in the Max Lange attack. With his ninth move White threatened to win a piece by Kt x B and Q—R 5 ch. Black could not parry the threat by 9...Q—Q 3, on account of P x P followed by Kt—K 4—B 6 ch. The position in the diagram appears to be favourable for Black, as all his minor pieces are in play, whilest White's development is somewhat restricted by Black's strong pawns at Q B 5 and Q 5. For a long time this opening has not been played in tournaments, being considered unsatisfactory for White. With the present game, and his new move of 15 B—R 6, Marshall has reopened the question as to whether White's attack on the K file plus the pawn at K Kt 7 is sufficiently tempting.
11…O-O-OThis is imperative. If Black retires the Bishop from his unsafe position, White permanently prevents Black from castling, which is bound to be fatal in view of the open K file—e.g. 11...B—Kt 3; 12 P x P, R—K Kt 1; 13 P—K Kt 4, Q—Kt 3; 14 Kt x B, P x Kt; 15 B—Kt 5, R x P; 16 Q—B 3 while a violent attack.
12.Nxe6If White tries to win the exchange in the following way: 12 P—K Kt 4, Q—K 4!; 13 Kt—K B 3, Q—Q 4; 14 P x P followed by Kt—B 6, Black can initiate a promising counter attack by 14...B x P!!; 15 P x R=Q, R x Q; 16 Kt—B 6, Q x Kt; 17 Q x Q, B x Q. In this case White exposes his King's side by P—K Kt 4 in order to benefit from the unstable position of the Black K B, but unless care is taken, he can easily fall a victim to an attack on the open K Kt file.
13.g4Not Q—Q 4, on account of P x P and Kt—B 6.
15.Bh6This is Marshall's innovation. It gets the Bishop out of play, as P—Kt 5 must necessarily follow, yet the pawn at Kt 7 holds the Black Rook, and there is a permanent threat of Kt—B 6 either winning the exchange or, if the Knight is taken, giving White a pair of formidable passed pawns.
16…Bd6This is quite to White's liking, since he wishes to advance his centre pawns. Black's only chance of escaping disaster would be: B—K 2, while R—Q 2, Kt—Q 1—B 2. Instead of this, his next few moves do not reveal any concerted plan, and he loses in a surprisingly short time.
21.Qg4In manœuvring his Q, Black has achieved nothing either for counter attack or defence. Now White has numerous attacking chances. He first turns his attention to the K P.
22.Re4and now even the Q R takes part in the assault. Black's game is hopeless.
25.Kg2attacking the K P by avoiding the check.
29.Qxc6After this, no master has tried to defend a “ Max Lange ” in an international tournament.
Edward Lasker, Chess Strategy (1921) · Public domain · source