Theoria
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Pterodactyl Defense

Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus

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  1. 1.e4g6
  2. 2.d4Bg7
  3. 3.Nc3c5
  4. 4.dxc5Qa5
1,072 games54%43%

Eastern Pterodactyl line in which Black meets 4. dxc5 with 4...Qa5, pinning the c3-knight and aiming to regain the pawn with dark-square pressure.

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About the Rhamphorhynchus

In the Eastern Rhamphorhynchus, Black answers 4. dxc5 with 4...Qa5 rather than the Pteranodon's 4...Bxc3+. The queen pins the c3-knight to the king, combines with the g7-bishop against c3, and prepares to recover the pawn on c5. The most common reply, 5. Bd2, breaks the pin at once. 5. Ne2 is another option, and 5. Nf3 transposes to the Sicilian Rhamphorhynchus. Engines give White a slight edge, and White scores well in practice.

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