Theoria
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Pterodactyl Defense

Fianchetto, Queen Pteranodon

A40offbeataggressive

  1. 1.d4g6
  2. 2.c4Bg7
  3. 3.Nc3c5
  4. 4.d5Bxc3+
  5. 5.bxc3Qa5
292 games43%53%

A Pterodactyl line after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 in which Black trades the g7-bishop on c3 to double White's c-pawns, then targets them with ...Qa5.

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About the Queen Pteranodon

The Queen Pteranodon applies the Pteranodon idea to the 1. d4 g6 2. c4 move order. After White meets 3...c5 with the space-gaining 4. d5, Black gives up the fianchettoed bishop with 4...Bxc3+. This leaves White with doubled c-pawns and an isolated a-pawn, and 5...Qa5 then attacks c3. White's usual defenses are 6. Bd2 and 6. Qc2, played about equally often. Engines rate White's bishop pair and space as a clear advantage, yet Black scores well in online games.

Popular continuations