A40-A42 (+B06-B27)

Pterodactyl Defense

33 named lines in this family, ECO A40-A42 (+B06-B27). Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet LineA40

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. e3

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
1... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Modern Defense.
2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
2... Bg7 Fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, pressuring d4 and e5 from a distance.

Central, Benoni PterodactylA40

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 c5 4. d5 Qa5+

Fianchetto, Queen Benoni PterodactylA40

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Qa5

White's knight on c3 is pinned against the king.

Fianchetto, Queen PterodactylA40

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Qa5+

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn.

Fianchetto, Queen PteranodonA40

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

The structure hands White the half-open b-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Central, Benoni Beefeater PterodactylA40

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5

Central, BogoluboviaA42

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5

Main lineA42

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 d6

1. Nf3 Theory calls this the Zukertort Opening.
1... c5 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Sicilian Invitation.
2. c4 Theory calls this the Symmetrical Variation.

Eastern, AnhangueraB06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. Be3

1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.

Eastern, BenoniB06

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

Austrian, Austriadactylus WesternB06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5+

Austrian, Grand Prix PterodactylB06

1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5

2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4. It also props up the e4 pawn.

Austrian, PteranodonB06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 c5 4. c3 Qa5

White's pawn on c3 is pinned against the king.

Eastern, Benoni PterodactylB06

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

Eastern, RhamphorhynchusB06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Qa5

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the d-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.