ECO A40 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pteranodon

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Qa5

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

6. Qc2+0.98

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pteranodon (A40), reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Qc2 for White. White is clearly better (+0.98).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.986. Qc2 f5 7. e4 d6 8. Bd3 fxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bd3 Nbd7
  2. +0.896. e4 Nf6 7. f3 d6 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. Qc2 Nb6 10. a4 Bd7
  3. +0.866. Bd2 f5 7. f3 d6 8. e4 fxe4 9. fxe4 Nf6 10. Qc2 Nbd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pteranodon?
After 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Qc2 for White, continuing f5 7. e4 d6 8. Bd3 fxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bd3 Nbd7. White is clearly better (+0.98). The next best moves are 6. e4 (+0.89) and 6. Bd2 (+0.86).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pteranodon a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.98: 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 Pteranodon?
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+).