Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
25,696 games: White 43.0% / Draw 4.7% / Black 52.3%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Anhanguera | 8,8568,856 | |
| Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Unpin | 4,9194,919 | |
| Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx | 3,2143,214 | |
| Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus | 3,1063,106 | |
| 2,2302,230 | ||
| Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit | 1,3621,362 | |
| 1,0911,091 | ||
| 282282 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 7, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.21 White is better
Best play: 5. d5 d6 6. Nd2 a6 7. Nc4 Qc7 8. a4 Nd7 9. Be2 Ngf6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation (ECO B27, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5 (4 moves).
In 25,696 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.0%, Black 52.3% and 4.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Be3, in 34% of those games.
It branches into 3 named variations; the most played are Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Anhanguera and Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Unpin.
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How to play against the Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation
5. d5 (Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit) scores best for White: 53.2%, with White winning 50.7% and Black 44.3% of 1,362 games. The most played, 5. Be3, scores 47.2% in 8,856 games, and 5. Bc4 scores lowest: 33.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. d5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (3)
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation (B27)”. Lichess data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/modern-defense-pterodactyl-variation