Tree path 4 levels King's Pawn Game › Modern Defense › Modern Defense › Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Modern Defense B06
- Modern Defense B06
- Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit B06 you are here
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit
Overview
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit is a gambit, classified under ECO code B06 within the Semi-Open Games family. As with all gambits, one side sacrifices material early — usually a pawn — in exchange for development, open lines, or initiative.
The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.
It is reached after 10 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 c5 4. Nc3 d6 5. dxc5 Qa5.
It is a variation of Modern Defense, which itself descends from the root opening King's Pawn Game.
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
- B06
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 10
- Parent
- Modern Defense
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
2,458 games · White 50.7% / Draw 6.4% / Black 42.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bd2 | 958 | |
| cxd6 | 927 | |
| Qa4+ | 312 | |
| Ne2 | 93 | |
| Qc2 | 66 | |
| Qb3 | 37 | |
| Nf3 | 31 | |
| Qd3 | 14 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:12:54
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Submissions are reviewed before publishing.