ECO B06 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Qa5

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

6. Qd4+0.79

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Qd4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.79).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.796. Qd4 Nf6 7. Qb4 Nc6 8. Qxa5 Nxa5 9. f3 b6 10. cxb6 axb6
  2. +0.766. Ne2 Nc6 7. Be3 Nf6 8. f3 b6 9. cxb6 axb6 10. Qb1 Rb8
  3. +0.626. Rb1 Nf6 7. Bd3 Qxc5 8. Nf3 d6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qd2 b6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Qd4 for White, continuing Nf6 7. Qb4 Nc6 8. Qxa5 Nxa5 9. f3 b6 10. cxb6 axb6. White is slightly better (+0.79). The next best moves are 6. Ne2 (+0.76) and 6. Rb1 (+0.62).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.79: 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: Eastern, 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+).