Caissa Codex
A42

Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia

Chess diagram: Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia after 5…Qa5

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Statistics from Lichess

164 games: White 50.0% / Draw 5.5% / Black 44.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 24, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.94 White is better

Best play: 6. d5 Nf6 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Ng3 e6 9. Be2 exd5 10. exd5 h5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia (ECO A42, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense, reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5 (5 moves).

In 164 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.0%, Black 44.5% and 5.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Be3, in 68% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5, the position after Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia (A42)”. Lichess data as of 24 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/pterodactyl-defense-central-bogolubovia

https://chesscodex.org/openings/pterodactyl-defense-central-bogolubovia