Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Pteranodon
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3
The Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Pteranodon is a chess opening classified as ECO B27, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3. It is a line of the Pterodactyl Defense. Black is to move. 1 named line continues from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 29 times by this move order. White won 62%, 0% were drawn and Black won 38%. The most popular continuation is 6… Qxc3+ (100% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.15 (Stockfish, depth 38; best line 6… Qxc3+ 7. Bd2 Qxc5 8. Bd3 Nf6 9. O-O)
- ECO
- B27
- Moves
- 11 plies
- FEN
rnb1k1nr/pp1ppp1p/6p1/q1P5/4P3/2P2N2/P1P2PPP/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 0 6- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 6 | |
| 1500-1999 | 14 | |
| 2000+ | 9 | |
| All | 29 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 6… Qxc3+ Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl, Exchange Variation | 29 (100%) |
Highest-rated Lichess games
- ChessValkyrie (2458) – Mandarria-76 (2375) 0-1 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 2s
- Nikkkita (2404) – Mandarria-76 (2416) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 2s
- FM lazarofree (2402) – vladleo54 (2042) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3
Continuations
- Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl, Exchange Variation B27 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qxc3+
More Pterodactyl Defense lines (all)
- Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Beefeater Pterodactyl A40
- Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Pterodactyl A40
- Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Benoni Pterodactyl A40
- Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pteranodon A40
- Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pterodactyl A40
- Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line A40
- Pterodactyl Defense A42
- Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia A42
- Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western B06
- Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Grand Prix Pterodactyl B06
- Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Pteranodon B06
- Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Anhanguera 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.