ECO B06 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, King Pterodactyl

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5+

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

5. Bd2+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, King Pterodactyl (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.305. Bd2 Qb6 6. Bc3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 Bxd4 8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6
  2. +0.205. c3 cxd4 6. b4 Qc7 7. cxd4 Nf6 8. Bf4 d6 9. Nbd2 O-O
  3. −0.025. Nc3 d6 6. h3 Nf6 7. Bd2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 O-O 9. Bg2 Nc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, King Pterodactyl?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White, continuing Qb6 6. Bc3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 Bxd4 8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 5. c3 (+0.20) and 5. Nc3 (−0.02).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, King Pterodactyl a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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: Fianchetto, King Pterodactyl?
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+).