Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx
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Statistics from Lichess
3,695 games: White 33.1% / Draw 3.2% / Black 63.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 2,5312,531 | ||
| 505505 | ||
| 348348 | ||
| 104104 | ||
| 9898 | ||
| 3636 | ||
| 3131 | ||
| 2828 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
−2.99 Black is clearly better
Best play: 5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qc5 7. Be3 Qxc4 8. Nd5 Kf8 9. b3 Qa6 10. Qd2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx (ECO B06, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl, reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 Qa5 5. Bc4 (5 moves).
In 3,695 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 33.1%, Black 63.8% and 3.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…cxd4, in 68% 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: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx
The most played answer, 5…cxd4, also scores best for Black: 72.6%, with Black winning 71.1% and White 25.8% of 2,531 games. Of the main answers, 5…Nf6 scores lowest: 50.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…cxd4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx (B06)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/pterodactyl-defense-sicilian-siroccopteryx