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Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line

146K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

49.9%

45%55%
Floor49.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 50.1%.

Measured over 146K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 146K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
146K
Best context
52.6% at 2000-2199 Rapid
Worst context
48.0% at 1400-1599 Rapid
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
95.7%
Draws
4.3%

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 falls away as the rating rises: 51.5% at 0-999, 43.2% 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, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (151 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.4% expected score (151 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (17 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (700 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (505 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 45.0% expected score (69 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 54.3% expected score (22 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (1,893 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (1,532 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.7% expected score (227 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 68.2% expected score (4 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 47.6% expected score (80 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (3,803 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.9% expected score (4,246 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.0% expected score (698 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 42.7% expected score (19 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 46.2% expected score (156 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (8,604 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (9,469 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.3% expected score (1,802 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 46.0% expected score (60 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 52.5% expected score (80 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (17,259 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.3% expected score (16,519 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 51.3% expected score (2,491 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 56.8% expected score (95 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 69.0% expected score (17 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (24,451 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (14,738 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.6% expected score (1,668 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 55.7% expected score (34 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 59.1% expected score (15 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (22,725 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (5,918 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (460 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (4,744 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (462 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 47.2% expected score (16 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Pterodactyl Defense
44.0%
Variations (5)
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Anhanguera
48.1%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni
49.3%
Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Rhamphorhynchus
48.0%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus
51.1%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus
49.0%
Analyze Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line scores 49.9% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 49.7% and 50.1% — from 146K 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
146K+ 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: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate?

Playing the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line, White wins 47.7%, draws 4.3% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.9%. It rests on 146K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line perform best?

The Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 52.0% (5.2K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 50.3% in Blitz (54K games) against 51.5% in Rapid (7.4K games).

How sharp is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line?

The Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line has a sharpness score of 95.7 (very decisive), meaning 95.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 49.5%, draws 2.3% and loses 48.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.7%. It rests on 321 Lichess games, which average 25 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 48.5%, draws 2.7% and loses 48.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.9%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 49.2%, draws 2.4% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.5%. It rests on 3.7K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 48.0%, draws 2.9% and loses 49.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.5%. It rests on 8.8K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 48.6%, draws 3.3% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 20K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 47.4%, draws 3.9% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.4%. It rests on 36K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 47.5%, draws 4.5% and loses 47.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.8%. It rests on 41K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 47.4%, draws 5.3% and loses 47.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.1%. It rests on 29K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 48.2%, draws 7.5% and loses 44.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.0%. It rests on 5.2K Lichess games, which average 43 moves.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 48.9%, draws 2.2% and loses 48.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 378 Lichess games.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 47.7%, draws 3.6% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.5%. It rests on 84K Lichess games.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 47.7%, draws 5.1% and loses 47.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 54K Lichess games.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 48.5%, draws 6.0% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.5%. It rests on 7.4K Lichess games.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 48.1%, draws 9.8% and loses 42.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.0%. It rests on 218 Lichess games.

Is the Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line a good opening?

The Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line is about level. Across all ratings, White wins 47.7% of its games and loses 48.0%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.