Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5
5. d5+0.94
White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation (B27), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. d5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.94).
Top engine moves
- +0.945. d5 d6 6. Nd2 Nd7 7. Be2 a6 8. a4 b5 9. Nb3 Bxc3+
- +0.855. Be3 Nf6 6. Qd2 cxd4 7. Nxd4 d6 8. f3 a6 9. g4 Nc6
- +0.565. Qd3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Nb3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qc7 9. c4 d6
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. d5 for White, continuing d6 6. Nd2 Nd7 7. Be2 a6 8. a4 b5 9. Nb3 Bxc3+. White is clearly better (+0.94). The next best moves are 5. Be3 (+0.85) and 5. Qd3 (+0.56).
Is the Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.94: white is clearly 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: Pterodactyl Variation?
B27. 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+).