Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Declined

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 c5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Qa5+

Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Declined after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 c5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Qa5+ 87654321abcdefgh

The Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Declined is a chess opening classified as ECO B06, reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 c5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 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: +0.45 (Stockfish, depth 27; best line 6. Nc3 Bg4 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. O-O Nc6)

ECO
B06
Moves
10 plies
FEN
rnb1k1nr/pp2ppbp/3p2p1/q1p5/2PPP3/5N2/PP2BPPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 2 6
PGN
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 c5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Qa5+

Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess

Comes from

Modern Defense (2. d4 Bg7) 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7

More Modern Defense lines (all)

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.