The Central, Bogolubovia is a variation of the Pterodactyl Defense, catalogued as ECO A42. The line runs 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move after five moves.
On the Pterodactyl Defense generally: ECO A40. A chess opening with 34 known variations.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 17 Pterodactyl Defense variations →
The Central, Bogolubovia goes 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5. It is a variation of the Pterodactyl Defense and is catalogued as ECO A42.
The Central, Bogolubovia is ECO A42. 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. e4 d6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nge2 Qa5 at +0.73 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 d4 and e4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move.