ECO B27 · Pterodactyl Defense

Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Pterodactyl

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. d4 Qa5

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

5. Bc4+0.93

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Pterodactyl (B27), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. d4 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bc4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.93).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.935. Bc4 e6 6. Na3 a6 7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4 Ne7 9. Bg5 b5
  2. +0.785. b4 cxb4 6. cxb4 Qxb4+ 7. Bd2 Qb6 8. Nc3 d6 9. Rb1 Qd8
  3. +0.665. d5 d6 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. a4 e6 9. dxe6 Bxe6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Pterodactyl?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. d4 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bc4 for White, continuing e6 6. Na3 a6 7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4 Ne7 9. Bg5 b5. White is clearly better (+0.93). The next best moves are 5. b4 (+0.78) and 5. d5 (+0.66).
Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Pterodactyl a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.93: 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: Western, Pterodactyl?
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+).