Theoria
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Pterodactyl Defense

Western, Pterodactyl

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  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.Nf3g6
  3. 3.c3Bg7
  4. 4.d4Qa5
287 games46%51%

A Pterodactyl line against the deferred Alapin in which Black's queen goes to a5 to pin the c3-pawn and undermine White's d4 center.

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About the Pterodactyl

The Western Pterodactyl arises when White meets the Hyperaccelerated Dragon move order 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 with 3. c3, a deferred Alapin, and Black answers 3...Bg7 4. d4 with 4...Qa5. The queen pins the c3-pawn to the king, so a capture ...cxd4 cannot be met by cxd4. White most often breaks the pin with 5. Bd2, while 5. Be3 and 5. Nbd2 are less common. Engines give White a clear advantage, although Black scores well in online games.

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