Pterodactyl Defense

Queen to a5, bishop to g7: Black aims at the dark squares

Fianchetto
Offbeat

A rare set-up in which Black combines g6 and …Bg7 with the c5 pawn and an early …Qa5. It looks like the Sicilian and the Benoni, and can be reached by several move orders. The idea is to pile up pressure on the dark squares early and to pin the white knight on c3. It suits players who want to step off the beaten path.

Interactive Opening Board

5…d6

♚

Black

♔

White

5…d6

Speed:

Moves

(10 plies • 5 moves)

5…d6Tabiya

1–5moves
#WhiteBlack
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Defining move

4…Qa5+! — a check and a pin

The move that sets the Pterodactyl apart from ordinary Sicilian set-ups

The queen comes to a5 with check along the diagonal, and after Nc3 it pins the knight to the king. The knight can no longer really defend the e4 pawn or hold the d4 pawn. Black gets targets before finishing development, but a queen on the edge of the board can become a target itself.

Tabiya

White's broad centre against Black's pin

White has pawns on c4, d4 and e4, so plenty of space; Black has answered with a fianchettoed bishop, a pinned knight on c3 and pressure on the dark squares. White needs to keep the centre and develop without losses; Black wants to trade off the d4 pawn or hit e4 with a knight from f6. The position is sharp, and both sides can go wrong easily.

White’s plan

Keep the broad centre: Be2 or Bd3, then castling.
Unpin the c3 knight, for example with Bd2, and chase the queen off a5.
Stop Black opening the game on the dark squares with a trade on d4.

Black’s plan

Trade the d4 pawn with …cxd4 and play …Nf6 against e4.
Add pressure on the dark squares with the g7 bishop and the queen.
Bring the queen out of danger in good time and castle.

Games in the Atlas

No games in the Atlas yet