Modern Defense · B27

Pterodactyl Variation

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

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. ...g6 before anything: maximum flexibility, the g7 bishop as the anchor, and the pawn breaks chosen only after White commits. White's knight on c3 is pinned against the king.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... c5 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Sicilian Defense.
• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Hyperaccelerated Dragon.

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