Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense

The Suhle Defense is the usual answer to 8. Be2 in the Bishop Check Line of the Polerio Defense. With 8...h6 Black attacks the knight on g5 immediately, forcing White to commit it before Black completes development. Having given up a pawn, Black depends on tempo. The open b-file, the half-open d-file and the lead in development only count if White is kept busy, and harassing the knight is the most direct way to do that.

White has two realistic retreats. 9. Nf3 is by far the most common and keeps the knight near the center, but it allows 9...e4, which hits the knight again. After 10. Ne5 the knight takes up an advanced post, and 10...Qc7 is the Göring Variation. The alternative 9. Nh3, the Steinitz Variation, moves the knight to the rim, where Black's e-pawn cannot chase it. 9. Nxf7, giving up the knight for a pawn, is rarely played and scores poorly for White. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced. In online games Black scores slightly better than White, and draws are uncommon.