Two Knights Defense, Colman Variation

The Colman Variation, also called the Colman Defense, is Black's reply 8...Rb8 to 8. Qf3 in the Polerio Defense. The c6-pawn is attacked by both queen and bishop, but Black does not defend it. Instead the rook goes to the half-open b-file, where it hits the b5-bishop and eyes b2. 9. Bxc6+ is by far the most common answer. Engines prefer retreating the bishop with 9. Bd3 or 9. Be2. The position is assessed as balanced, and Black scores well in practice.