Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5
The Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B27, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5. It is a line of the Modern Defense. White is to move. 3 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 10 times by this move order. White won 50%, 0% were drawn and Black won 50%. The most popular continuation is 5. Be3 (50% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.99 (Stockfish, depth 36; best line 5. d5 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Nf6 7. Be2 d6)
- ECO
- B27
- Moves
- 8 plies
- FEN
rnb1k1nr/pp1pppbp/6p1/q1p5/3PP3/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 3 5- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 4 | |
| 2000+ | 6 | |
| All | 10 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 5. Be3 Sicilian, Anhanguera | 5 (50%) | |
| 5. Bc4 | 2 (20%) | |
| 5. dxc5 | 1 (10%) | |
| 5. Bd2 Sicilian, Unpin | 1 (10%) | |
| 5. Be2 | 1 (10%) |
Master games
10 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 40%, draw 20%, Black 40%). The strongest:
- Vadim Tregubov (2371) – IM Krystian Kuzmicz (2451) 0-1 · ch-European Rapid 2013 · 2013-12-15
- FM Petri Hokkanen (2305) – FM Hentunen, A. (2322) 0-1 · TCh-FIN SM 2012-13 · 2012-09-30
- IM Attila Jakab (2236) – FM Bertalan Szikszai (2312) 1/2-1/2 · Vezerkepzo IM Easter 2025 · 2025-04-15
- FM Paris Klerides (2168) – FM Arno Bezemer (2323) 1-0 · 32nd Liechtenstein Open · 2014-05-28
- WFM Yoana Gonzalez Ochoa (2060) – Daniel Gonzalez Mesa (2275) 0-1 · 48th Capablanca Open I 2013 · 2013-04-30
Search all games of the Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Euphoria1230 (2578) – lilama (2399) 0-1 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 2s
- Maupert (2190) – behrozmt (2312) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 300 + 0s
- RicardoSchutt (2278) – parvadomus (2134) 1-0 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7
Continuations
- Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Anhanguera B27 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Be3
- Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit B27 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. d5
- Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Unpin B27 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Bd2
More Modern Defense lines (all)
- Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Polish Variation A04
- Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation A04
- Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Accepted A04
- Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation A40
- Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Pirc-Diemer Gambit A40
- Modern Defense (3. Nc3 d6) A41
- Modern Defense: Neo-Modern Defense A41
- Modern Defense: Averbakh System A42
- Modern Defense: Averbakh Variation, Pseudo-Sämisch A42
- Modern Defense: Kotov Variation A42
- Modern Defense: Randspringer Variation A42
- Modern Defense (1. e4 g6) B06
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.