Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon
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Statistics from Lichess
41,800 games: White 48.7% / Draw 6.6% / Black 44.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 27,64428K | ||
| 4,3764,376 | ||
| Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Pteranodon | 3,0613,061 | |
| 2,1472,147 | ||
| 1,7991,799 | ||
| 1,6431,643 | ||
| 528528 | ||
| 204204 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.95 White is better
Best play: 6. Qd4 Nf6 7. Qb4 Qc7 8. Bd3 b6 9. cxb6 axb6 10. Be3 Na6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon (ECO B06, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus, reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 Qa5 (5 moves).
In 41,800 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.7%, Black 44.6% and 6.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Qd4, in 66% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon
6. Nf3 (Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Pteranodon) scores best for White: 53.9%, with White winning 50.9% and Black 43.1% of 3,061 games. The most played, 6. Qd4, scores 51.9% in 28K games, and 6. Bb2 scores lowest: 47.6%. Stockfish's first choice is 6. Qd4.
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
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon (B06)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/pterodactyl-defense-eastern-pteranodon