Welcome to the Polerio Defense (of the Italian Game)

Example-game:

White Resigned

I'm not any better than him. not by a margin. the opening simply favors Black.

Let's take a look at the tabia:

Now let's study the 3 main options, based on White's choice.

The Polerio Defense | Black's main Option in the Two Knights Defense | IM Alex Astaneh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6IRiLjiN-A&t=18s

BTW - This isn't a gambit - like the Steiner Attack of the Ruy Lopez (=the previous post) - you can check with an engine - you're a pawn down, and have no pawn-structure, yet the engine shows  0.1 for White. - think about it...

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There's also a 4th option for White, it's terrible, but you need to know how to refute it, so I computer-analyzed it a long time ago:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/the-new-and-improved-fried-liver-attack

The Polerio is sharp - you need to be accurate. or experienced enough.

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I'll finish with the words of Mato: I wish you good luck with your chess, and, goodbye for now.

Nice I also play this for Black, but I don't play the Coleman with 8...Rb8, I play 8...Be7 and everything holds if 9. Bxc6+ Nxc6 10. Qxc6+ Bd7 and the Black Queen now defends the Rook on a8. In this line, I'll sacrifice 2 and sometimes even 3 pawns for the initiative and sharp attacking play on White's Kingside. The computer approves, but it is very sharp...just how I like it

Thank you my good man. You're right, that's also a good option, but with Be7 you still have that pesky corner-knight to deal with, all a matter of taste, all good :-)

Yup and more pesky things to address later down the road too Like you said, "all good"

You're exagerating a bit here, the opening is very unbalanced and both sides have something to play for, Black is not "favored" by the opening if White chooses to play 8 Bd3 or 8 Be2. 8 Qf3 is worse than the two although not very easy to refute as Black has to know some forced lines