ECO B06 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Qa5

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

5. Bd2+1.21

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White. White is clearly better (+1.21).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.215. Bd2 Qxc5 6. Nd5 Na6 7. Nf3 e6 8. b4 Qf8 9. Nc3 Qe7
  2. +0.815. Ne2 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 7. Qd5 Nxc3 8. Nxc3 Nc6 9. f4 O-O
  3. +0.495. Rb1 Qxc5 6. Nd5 Nf6 7. b4 Qd6 8. Bb2 e5 9. Nxf6+ Qxf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White, continuing Qxc5 6. Nd5 Na6 7. Nf3 e6 8. b4 Qf8 9. Nc3 Qe7. White is clearly better (+1.21). The next best moves are 5. Ne2 (+0.81) and 5. Rb1 (+0.49).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.21: 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: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus?
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+).