ECO B06 · Modern Defense

Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. dxc5+0.69

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. dxc5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.69).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.694. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Qc7 7. Nf3 Qxc5 8. Qd2 d6
  2. +0.684. Be3 cxd4 5. Bxd4 Bxd4 6. Qxd4 Nf6 7. O-O-O Nc6 8. Qe3 Qa5
  3. +0.624. d5 d6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. h4 h5 7. a4 O-O 8. Nh3 Bxh3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. dxc5 for White, continuing Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Qc7 7. Nf3 Qxc5 8. Qd2 d6. White is slightly better (+0.69). The next best moves are 4. Be3 (+0.68) and 4. d5 (+0.62).
Is the Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.69: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl?
B06. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).