Tree path 4 levels Zukertort Opening › Sicilian Invitation › Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation › Pterodactyl Defense
- Caissa Codex
- Zukertort Opening A04
- Sicilian Invitation A04
- Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation A04
- Pterodactyl Defense A42 you are here
Pterodactyl Defense
Overview
Pterodactyl Defense is a variation within the Flank Openings family, indexed as ECO A42.
The Flank Openings group covers flank openings — systems that delay the central pawn break and instead develop pieces and pawns on the wings.
Play reaches this position via 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 d6, after 10 plies of opening development.
It is a variation of Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation, which itself descends from the root opening Zukertort Opening.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- A42
- Group
- Flank Openings (A)
- Plies
- 10
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
2,287 games · White 40.9% / Draw 5.8% / Black 53.3%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Be2 | 798 | |
| Be3 | 586 | |
| d5 | 342 | |
| Bd2 | 241 | |
| dxc5 | 128 | |
| h3 | 107 | |
| Rb1 | 23 | |
| e5 | 16 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:11:28
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