ECO B06 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5+

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

5. Nc3+0.43

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.43).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.435. Nc3 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 7. Qd3 Nxc3 8. Bd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 d6
  2. +0.365. Bd2 Qb6 6. Bc3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 Bxd4 8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6
  3. +0.365. c3 cxd4 6. b4 Qc7 7. cxd4 Nc6 8. Nc3 Nxd4 9. Bd2 Nxf3+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White, continuing Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 7. Qd3 Nxc3 8. Bd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 d6. White is slightly better (+0.43). The next best moves are 5. Bd2 (+0.36) and 5. c3 (+0.36).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.43: 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 Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western?
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+).