The Sicilian, Pteranodon is a variation of the Pterodactyl Defense, catalogued as ECO B27. The line runs 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3, reaching the position shown below after 11 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after six moves. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s c- and a-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair.
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 Sicilian, Pteranodon goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3. It is a variation of the Pterodactyl Defense and is catalogued as ECO B27.
The Sicilian, Pteranodon is ECO B27. 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. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 at +0.01 at depth 18, which is balanced. 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 e4. Development is level at two minor pieces each, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s c- and a-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair.