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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).