ECO A40 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Benoni Pterodactyl

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Qa5

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

5. Bd2+1.04

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Benoni Pterodactyl (A40), reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White. White is clearly better (+1.04).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.045. Bd2 d6 6. e4 Qd8 7. h4 h5 8. Nf3 Na6 9. Ng5 Nf6
  2. +0.945. Qc2 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 f5 7. e4 fxe4 8. f3 d6 9. fxe4 Nf6
  3. +0.785. e4 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Nf6 7. f3 d6 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. a4 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Benoni Pterodactyl?
After 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bd2 for White, continuing d6 6. e4 Qd8 7. h4 h5 8. Nf3 Na6 9. Ng5 Nf6. White is clearly better (+1.04). The next best moves are 5. Qc2 (+0.94) and 5. e4 (+0.78).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Benoni Pterodactyl a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.04: 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: Fianchetto, Queen 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+).