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Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−11.7%

Black isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −7.1% at 2000-2199
1600-17992500+
Win%44.4%
Games1.0K
Breakpoint1600-1799first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit keeps Black's wins running −11.7% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 1.0K Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstBlack WinDrawBlack LossGames
1600-1799−18.6%47.0%3.3%49.8%106
1800-1999−25.1%39.9%5.6%54.5%238
2000-2199−7.1%48.7%4.3%47.0%336
2200-2499−22.9%41.4%5.1%53.5%222
2500+−32.0%42.0%3.8%54.2%64
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 2000-2199, is −7.1%.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit win rate?

Black wins 44.4% of Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit games, draws 4.5% and loses 51.0%. That rests on 1.0K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 2000-2199: −7.1%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid. For Black, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −15.6% in Blitz (516 games) and −8.3% in Rapid (77 games). In neither do the games show Black winning more than losing.

Does the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit breakpoint vary by time control?

Yes. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 1800-1999 in Bullet and 1600-1799 in Blitz.

How sharp is the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit?

The Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit is extremely sharp: 4.5% of its games are drawn, so 95.5% end with a winner.

Should I play the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit?

Not for the results: Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see.

How do I defend against the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit?

As White, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. Black does not come out ahead with it at any rating we can see.

How reliable is the Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit data?

This rests on 1.0K games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.