ECO B27 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. d5

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

5… Bxc3++0.97

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit (B27), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Bxc3+ for Black. White is clearly better (+0.97).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.975… Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Nf6 7. Bb2 Nxe4 8. Bd3 Nd6 9. Qe2 b5 10. O-O
  2. +1.005… d6 6. Nd2 a6 7. Nc4 Qc7 8. a4 Nd7 9. Be2 Nb6 10. Ne3
  3. +1.035… Nf6 6. Nd2 d6 7. Be2 O-O 8. Nc4 Qc7 9. a4 Nbd7 10. Bf4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Bxc3+ for Black, continuing 6. bxc3 Nf6 7. Bb2 Nxe4 8. Bd3 Nd6 9. Qe2 b5 10. O-O. White is clearly better (+0.97). The next best moves are 5… d6 (+1.00) and 5… Nf6 (+1.03).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.97: 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: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit?
B27. 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+).