ECO A42 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5

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

6. d5+0.74

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia (A42), reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. d5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.74).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.746. d5 a6 7. Bd2 Qd8 8. h3 b5 9. cxb5 axb5 10. Nxb5 Bxb2
  2. +0.376. Be3 Nc6 7. h4 h5 8. f3 Bd7 9. d5
  3. +0.336. dxc5 dxc5 7. Bd2 Nc6 8. Nd5 Qd8 9. Bf4 e5 10. Be3 b6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia?
After 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. d5 for White, continuing a6 7. Bd2 Qd8 8. h3 b5 9. cxb5 axb5 10. Nxb5 Bxb2. White is slightly better (+0.74). The next best moves are 6. Be3 (+0.37) and 6. dxc5 (+0.33).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.74: 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: Central, Bogolubovia?
A42. 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+).