Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus
- 1.e4c5
- 2.Nf3g6
- 3.d4Bg7
- 4.dxc5Qa5+
- 5.Nc3
1,423 games
A Sicilian-move-order line of the Pterodactyl Defense in which White takes on c5 and Black regains the pawn with the queen after ...Qa5+.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Rhamphorhynchus
The Rhamphorhynchus is the Sicilian route into the Pterodactyl Defense. After 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3, Black is a pawn down for the moment and usually recovers it at once with 5...Qxc5, keeping the queen active and the g7-bishop on the long diagonal. The less common 5...Bxc3+ gives up the bishop to double White's c-pawns, which is the Pteranodon idea. The engine rates the position as balanced, and Lichess results are close to even.