Caissa Codex
B06

Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit

Chess diagram: Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit after 5…Qa5

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Statistics from Lichess

2,458 games: White 50.7% / Draw 6.4% / Black 42.9%

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 Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+2.61 White is clearly better

Even so, Black scores 46.1% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.

Best play: 6. cxd6 exd6 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. b3 Bg4 10. Nge2 Nb4

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

Overview

Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit (ECO B06, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Modern Defense, reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 c5 4. Nc3 d6 5. dxc5 Qa5 (5 moves).

In 2,458 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.7%, Black 42.9% and 6.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Bd2, in 39% of those games.

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How to play against the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit

6. cxd6 scores best for White: 61.1%, with White winning 58.1% and Black 35.9% of 927 games. The most played, 6. Bd2, scores 51.2% in 958 games, and 6. Qa4+ scores lowest: 44.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. cxd6.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3. c4 c5 4. Nc3 d6 5. dxc5 Qa5, the position after Modern Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit (B06)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/pterodactyl-defense-central-quetzalcoatlus-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/pterodactyl-defense-central-quetzalcoatlus-gambit