Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Accepted
1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. c4 c5 5. dxc5 Qa5+
The Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Accepted is a chess opening classified as ECO A04, reached after 1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. c4 c5 5. dxc5 Qa5+. It is a line of the Modern Defense. White is to move.
This exact move order didn't appear in our sample of 12.6 million Lichess games: it's a rare line.
Engine evaluation: +0.67 (Stockfish, depth 32; best line 6. Bd2 Qxc5 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Be2 Bg4)
- ECO
- A04
- Moves
- 10 plies
- FEN
rnb1k1nr/pp2ppbp/3p2p1/q1P5/2P1P3/5N2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 1 6- PGN
1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. c4 c5 5. dxc5 Qa5+
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Comes from
Zukertort Opening: Kingside Fianchetto 1. Nf3 g6
More Modern Defense lines (all)
- Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Polish Variation A04
- Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation 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
- Modern Defense (2. d4 Bg7) 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.