The Central, Benoni Beefeater Pterodactyl is a variation of the Pterodactyl Defense, catalogued as ECO A40. The line runs 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5, reaching the position shown below after 12 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e4. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is White to move after six moves. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; White has the bishop pair.
On the Pterodactyl Defense generally: ECO A40. A chess opening with 34 known variations.
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See all 17 Pterodactyl Defense variations →
The Central, Benoni Beefeater Pterodactyl goes 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5. It is a variation of the Pterodactyl Defense and is catalogued as ECO A40.
The Central, Benoni Beefeater Pterodactyl is ECO A40. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Pterodactyl Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 at +1.05 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e4. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is White to move. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; White has the bishop pair.