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Pterodactyl Defense

32 variations · 830K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Pterodactyl Defense is balanced for White at 50.6% expected score.

This opening produces roughly even results, with outcomes depending more on middlegame play than opening choice.

You play
Playable
Rating
Time
White Expected Score0.0%Range (90% confident): 50.5% – 50.7%Aggregated from 32 variations
0%50.6%100%
Range (90% confident): 50.5% – 50.7%
ContextOverall · n=830K
Outcome Distribution
48.6%3.9%47.5%
Win
Draw
Loss
5...d6
Pterodactyl Defense
Variations32
Games (Context)830K
Avg Length35 moves
Draw Rate3.9%

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for White · Overall

#1Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, RhamphorhynchusTop Pick
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.dxc5
Min adv +5.6% · n=57K
53.2%
#2Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni
1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5
Min adv +2.1% · n=134K
51.3%
#3Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.dxc5 Qa5+ 5.Nc3
Min adv +0.7% · n=48K
50.8%
#4Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.d5
Min adv +0.1% · n=3.4K
51.5%
#5Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Anhanguera
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.Be3
Min adv -0.4% · n=186K
50.0%
#6Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line
1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3
Min adv -0.7% · n=146K
49.9%
#7Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Unpin
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Bd2
Min adv -8.2% · n=2.8K
47.5%
#8Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Pteranodon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.dxc5 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3
Min adv -8.2% · n=1.4K
48.1%
#9Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Anhanguera
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Be3
Min adv -13.0% · n=8.0K
44.4%
#10Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 Qa5 5.Bc4
Min adv -32.0% · n=1.5K
36.1%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the Pterodactyl Defense expected score for White?

Snapshot

Overall, the Pterodactyl Defense family has a 50.6% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 50.5% and 50.7%), aggregated from 32 variations and 830K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 45% → 50%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 44.6% win rate (3,705 games)
  • 1000-1199: 47.6% win rate (11,102 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.3% win rate (27,928 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.4% win rate (58,875 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.1% win rate (104,355 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.3% win rate (160,044 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.4% win rate (190,726 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.1% win rate (201,705 games)
  • 2500+: 50.0% win rate (71,280 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~51%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 50.8% win rate (1,484 games)
  • Bullet: 48.5% win rate (450,455 games)
  • Blitz: 48.5% win rate (327,463 games)
  • Rapid: 49.8% win rate (48,543 games)
  • Classical: 49.9% win rate (1,775 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · White expected scores

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

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: 55.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 40.4% expected score (1,334 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (2,093 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (269 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (18 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (5,170 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (4,839 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.2% expected score (1,063 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 49.4% expected score (71 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (11,241 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (13,376 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 49.6% expected score (3,195 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 57.6% expected score (45 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 46.2% expected score (258 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.3% expected score (21,537 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (29,477 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (7,387 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 43.8% expected score (216 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 52.0% expected score (537 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 48.2% expected score (39,044 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (52,107 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.2% expected score (12,156 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.0% expected score (511 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 53.1% expected score (281 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (67,348 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (78,853 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 52.0% expected score (12,915 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 56.1% expected score (647 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 58.2% expected score (133 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (100,068 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (82,122 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.3% expected score (8,140 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 58.2% expected score (263 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.9% expected score (121 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (140,732 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (57,478 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 56.4% expected score (3,299 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 71.6% expected score (75 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 61.0% expected score (58 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (63,981 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (7,118 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 64.9% expected score (119 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (4 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (32)

1
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Bogolubovia117 games
64.0%
2
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni Pteranodon1.9K games
57.7%
3
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pterodactyl42K games
55.0%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus57K games
53.2%
Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Benoni Pterodactyl8.6K games
53.5%
Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Grand Prix Pterodactyl546 games
55.2%
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Quetzalcoatlus5.4K games
52.6%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni134K games
51.3%
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit1.0K games
53.3%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Rhamphorhynchus48K games
50.8%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Benoni Gambit3.4K games
51.5%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Anhanguera186K games
50.0%
Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Rhamphorhynchus119K games
50.0%
Pterodactyl Defense: Queen Pterodactyl, Quiet Line146K games
49.9%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni Pterodactyl4.2K games
50.9%
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Beefeater Pterodactyl3.5K games
50.6%
Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon16K games
49.4%
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Pterodactyl4.2K games
49.2%
Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pterodactyl443 games
51.9%
Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Pterodactyl12K games
48.8%
Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Anhanguera3.0K games
49.2%
Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Queen Pteranodon14K games
48.1%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Unpin2.8K games
47.5%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Pteranodon1.4K games
48.1%
Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Rhamphorhynchus312 games
48.9%
Pterodactyl Defense1.0K games
46.7%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Anhanguera8.0K games
44.4%
Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Pteranodon1.7K games
43.1%
Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Siroccopteryx1.9K games
41.4%
Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western501 games
43.1%
Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Anhanguera316 games
39.8%
Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx1.5K games
36.1%
Analyze Pterodactyl Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pterodactyl Defense win rate?

The Pterodactyl Defense family has a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.7%) win rate for white, aggregated from 32 variations and 830K rated games from Lichess.

How many Pterodactyl Defense variations are there?

This analysis covers 32 Pterodactyl Defense variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the Pterodactyl Defense perform best?

The Pterodactyl Defense family performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 50.0% win rate for white (71K games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the Pterodactyl Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Rapid (49.8%) outperforms Classical (49.9%) by -0.1% across all Pterodactyl Defense variations.

How sharp is the Pterodactyl Defense?

Pterodactyl Defense games are 96.1% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 35 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the Pterodactyl Defense a good opening family?

The Pterodactyl Defense family is statistically balanced overall with a 48.6% (90% CI: 48.5%-48.7%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 32 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.