ECO A40 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Pterodactyl

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 c5 4. d5 Qa5+

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

5. Nc3+1.05

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Pterodactyl (A40), reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 c5 4. d5 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.05).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.055. Nc3 d6 6. Bd2 Qd8 7. Be2 Nf6 8. h4 h5 9. Nf3 Ng4
  2. +1.035. Bd2 Qd8 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. h4 h5 9. Nf3 Ng4
  3. +0.735. Nd2 d6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. Nf3 Ngf6 8. a4 Qc7 9. O-O O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Pterodactyl?
After 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 c5 4. d5 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White, continuing d6 6. Bd2 Qd8 7. Be2 Nf6 8. h4 h5 9. Nf3 Ng4. White is clearly better (+1.05). The next best moves are 5. Bd2 (+1.03) and 5. Nd2 (+0.73).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Pterodactyl a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.05: 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 Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Pterodactyl?
A40. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

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