ECO B06 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Pteranodon

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. c3 Qa5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. d5+0.52

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Pteranodon (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. c3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. d5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.52).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.525. d5 d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O b5 9. Qe1 Nbd7
  2. +0.275. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Be2 Nxd4 9. Bxd4 e5
  3. +0.115. Ne2 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Be2 Nxd4 9. Bxd4 e5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Pteranodon?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. c3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. d5 for White, continuing d6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O b5 9. Qe1 Nbd7. White is slightly better (+0.52). The next best moves are 5. Nf3 (+0.27) and 5. Ne2 (+0.11).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Pteranodon a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.52: 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, Pteranodon?
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+).