B27 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation
8/8
1.e4c52.Nf3g63.d4Bg74.Nc3Qa5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Variation16k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
8.5%1.4k50%
5.5%90743%
1.4%22545%
0.6%9747%
0.6%9346%
Famous games in this line174 master games
Bologan, Viktor (2650) – Borg, Geoffrey (2367)Tolnai, Tibor (2490) – Dizdarevic, Emir (2505)Mogranzini, Roberto (2401) – Shengelia, Davit (2568)Mortensen, Erling (2475) – Keene, Raymond (2490)Khruschiov, Alexey (2400) – Blatny, Pavel (2547)Sax, Gyula (2600) – Bilek, Istvan (2345)Pavasovic, Dusko (2584) – Gruskovnjak, Tomislav (2339)Rasulov, Vu (2506) – Iskandarov, M. (2396)Heroes of this opening Bologan, Viktor · Shengelia, Davit · Mortensen, Erling · Khruschiov, Alexey
- Family
- Modern Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B27
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5
FianchettoHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Modern DefenseExplore all 40 Modern Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, UnpinB27 5.Bd2Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, AnhangueraB27 5.Be3Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni GambitB27 5.d5
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Letting White build the entire center while fianchettoing quietly was considered borderline disrespectful until players like Kotov and later Suttles made it a system. The Modern is the purest hypermodern bet on the board: the big center is not an asset — it's a target.
Study this opening