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Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus

57K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.2%

45%60%
Floor52.8%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 53.5%.

Measured over 57K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.2 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 57K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
57K
Best context
61.6% at 2500+ Blitz
Worst context
47.2% at 1200-1399 Bullet
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
95.8%
Draws
4.2%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 52.3% at 0-999, 59.4% at 2500+.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999——
1000-1199—
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+—

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (137 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (154 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (48 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.7% expected score (454 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (347 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 52.9% expected score (137 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (14 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.2% expected score (896 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (719 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 58.7% expected score (199 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 31.0% expected score (38 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (1,593 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 55.1% expected score (1,315 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (337 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 32.6% expected score (10 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 56.2% expected score (63 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (2,163 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (2,431 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (453 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (18 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 57.7% expected score (31 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (3,684 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (3,675 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (496 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 60.2% expected score (23 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (19 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.9% expected score (5,942 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.7% expected score (4,140 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 62.5% expected score (342 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 62.9% expected score (14 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 57.7% expected score (44 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.9% expected score (11,450 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.4% expected score (5,147 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 61.5% expected score (194 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 76.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 62.4% expected score (35 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (9,544 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 61.6% expected score (747 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 61.8% expected score (7 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Pterodactyl Defense
44.0%
Variations (5)
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Anhanguera
48.1%
Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line
47.7%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni
49.3%
Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Rhamphorhynchus
48.0%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus
49.0%
Analyze Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus scores 53.2% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 52.8% and 53.5% — from 57K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
57K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate?

Playing the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus, White wins 51.1%, draws 4.2% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 57K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus perform best?

The Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus performs best for White at 2000-2199, with an Expected Score of 54.4% (10K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 55.0% in Blitz (19K games) against 56.0% in Rapid (2.2K games).

How sharp is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus?

The Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus has a sharpness score of 95.8 (very decisive), meaning 95.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 52.4%, draws 1.3% and loses 46.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.1%. It rests on 339 Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 51.6%, draws 2.7% and loses 45.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.0%. It rests on 943 Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 50.5%, draws 2.8% and loses 46.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.9%. It rests on 1.8K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 50.4%, draws 2.8% and loses 46.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.8%. It rests on 3.3K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 50.4%, draws 3.3% and loses 46.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.1%. It rests on 5.1K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 50.5%, draws 3.7% and loses 45.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 7.9K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 52.5%, draws 3.7% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.4%. It rests on 10K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 51.5%, draws 4.5% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.8%. It rests on 17K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 49.8%, draws 5.7% and loses 44.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.7%. It rests on 10K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 52.1%, draws 2.6% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 249 Lichess games.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 50.1%, draws 3.8% and loses 46.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 36K Lichess games.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 52.5%, draws 4.9% and loses 42.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.0%. It rests on 19K Lichess games.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 53.9%, draws 4.2% and loses 41.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.0%. It rests on 2.2K Lichess games.

Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus a good opening?

The Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 51.1% of its games and loses 44.8%. It performs best at 2000-2199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.