Pterodactyl Defense: all variations and ECO codes

33 named lines across 4 ECO codes (A40–B27), spanning ECO volumes A, B. Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.

The idea

Black combines a Sicilian-style c5 with an early fianchetto and a queen check to a5, pinning down White’s development before White can consolidate the center. It’s a sharp, uncommon hybrid that borrows ideas from both the Sicilian and the hypermodern Indian defenses rather than following either one directly.

The main line

How the main line scores at your rating

Real Lichess win rates for 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 d6, playing as black: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.

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All 33 named variations

Every named line in the Pterodactyl Defense family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.

• A42Pterodactyl Defense (main line)1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 d6

• Central

  • A40Benoni Beefeater Pterodactyl1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.e4 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qa5
  • A40Benoni Pterodactyl1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 c5 4.d5 Qa5+
  • A42Bogolubovia1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 d6 4.Nc3 c5 5.Nge2 Qa5
  • B06Anhanguera1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 c5 4.Nc3 d6 5.Be3 Qa5
  • B06Benoni Quetzalcoatlus1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 Qa5
  • B06Quetzalcoatlus Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 c5 4.Nc3 d6 5.dxc5 Qa5

• Fianchetto

  • A40Queen Benoni Pterodactyl1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Qa5
  • A40Queen Pteranodon1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Qa5
  • A40Queen Pterodactyl1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Qa5+
  • B06King Pterodactyl1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.g3 c5 4.Nf3 Qa5+
  • B06Rhamphorhynchus1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.g3 c5 4.dxc5 Qa5+

• Queen Pterodactyl

  • A40Quiet Line1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3

• Austrian

  • B06Austriadactylus Western1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.f4 c5 4.Nf3 Qa5+
  • B06Grand Prix Pterodactyl1.e4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.f4 c5 4.Nf3 Qa5
  • B06Pteranodon1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.f4 c5 4.c3 Qa5

• Eastern

  • B06Anhanguera1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.Be3
  • B06Benoni1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5
  • B06Benoni Pteranodon1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Qa5
  • B06Benoni Pterodactyl1.d4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.e4 c5 4.d5 Qa5
  • B06Pteranodon1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.dxc5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Qa5
  • B06Rhamphorhynchus1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.dxc5 Qa5

• Sicilian

  • B06Quetzalcoatlus1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Qa5 5.Be2 d6
  • B06Siroccopteryx1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Qa5 5.Bc4
  • B27Anhanguera1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Be3
  • B27Benoni Gambit1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.d5
  • B27Pteranodon1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.dxc5 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3
  • B27Rhamphorhynchus1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.dxc5 Qa5+ 5.Nc3
  • B27Unpin1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Bd2

• Western

  • B06Anhanguera1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 c5 4.Be3 Qa5+
  • B06Siroccopteryx1.e4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.d4 c5 4.Bc4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qa5+
  • B27Pterodactyl1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 4.d4 Qa5
  • B27Rhamphorhynchus1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.dxc5 Qa5+

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