Pterodactyl Defense
Pterodactyl Defense (A42) starts 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 d6. In 70 games between strong players, White wins 49%, 6% are drawn and Black wins 46%; the most played move is 6.d5 (39%).
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 d6
- ECO
- A42
- Games between strong players
- 70
- To move
- White
White wins, draws and Black wins, from this position.
What strong players play next
The moves played most from this position in over-the-board broadcasts and the Lichess Elite Database, how often, and how the games ended.
| Move | Played | Results | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.d5 | 39% (27) | – | |
| 6.Be3 | 21% (15) | – | |
| 6.Be2 | 19% (13) | – | |
| 6.h3 | 9% (6) | – | |
| 6.Bd2 | 6% (4) | – | |
| 6.dxc5 | 4% (3) | – |
Where it comes from and where it goes
Branches from Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 Qa5+
Top players' games in the Pterodactyl Defense, reviewed
Every Pterodactyl Defense line
- Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni 605 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Rhamphorhynchus 464 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Anhanguera 273 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus 206 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line 181 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon 148 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus 123 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Pteranodon 56 games
- Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Anhanguera 51 games
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