ECO B06 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Grand Prix Pterodactyl

1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5

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

5. Bc4+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Grand Prix Pterodactyl (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.575. Bc4 a6 6. O-O e6 7. e5 d5 8. exd6 Nf6 9. Ne5 Qb6
  2. +0.465. a3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. d3 b5 8. Ba2 Ne7 9. O-O Nbc6
  3. +0.435. d4 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 7. Qd3 Nxc3 8. Bd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 d6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Grand Prix Pterodactyl?
After 1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bc4 for White, continuing a6 6. O-O e6 7. e5 d5 8. exd6 Nf6 9. Ne5 Qb6. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 5. a3 (+0.46) and 5. d4 (+0.43).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Grand Prix Pterodactyl a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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, Grand Prix 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+).