Queen's Pawn Game · D02

London System, Pterodactyl Variation

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Bf4 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. cxd4 Qa5+

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. The c-file is fully open.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 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. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn.
• 2... Bg7 Fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, pressuring d4 and e5 from a distance.

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