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Pterodactyl Defense

Sicilian, Pteranodon

B27tacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.Nf3g6
  3. 3.d4Bg7
  4. 4.dxc5Qa5+
  5. 5.Nc3Bxc3+
  6. 6.bxc3
377 games52%45%

Sicilian-order Pterodactyl line in which Black trades the g7-bishop on c3, wrecking White's queenside pawns and conceding the bishop pair.

Train it in Theoria

About the Pteranodon

The Pteranodon is the Sicilian move order of the Pterodactyl in which Black gives up the fianchettoed bishop with 5...Bxc3+, breaking up White's queenside after 6. bxc3. White is briefly a pawn up, but 6...Qxc3+ regains it in nearly all games, leading to the Exchange Variation. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced. White has the bishop pair, while Black has the healthier pawn structure against White's isolated a- and c-pawns.

Popular continuations