The London System, Pterodactyl Variation is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game, catalogued as ECO D02. The line runs 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Bf4 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. cxd4 Qa5+, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move after five moves. The c-file file is fully open.
On the Queen's Pawn Game generally: General term for openings beginning with 1.d4. Leads to strategic, positional play.
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The London System, Pterodactyl Variation goes 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Bf4 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. cxd4 Qa5+. It is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game and is catalogued as ECO D02.
The London System, Pterodactyl Variation is ECO D02. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Queen's Pawn Game.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Bf4 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. cxd4 Qa5+ at +0.52 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. 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. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move. The c-file file is fully open.