Modern Defense: Pterodactyl Beefeater Variation
Modern Defense
Definition
The Modern Defense is a hyper-modern chess opening in which Black allows White to occupy the centre with pawns and then attacks that centre from the flanks. The most common move order against 1.e4 is:
1…g6 2.d4 Bg7
Typical Move Orders & Key Position
After the two starting moves, Black keeps the central pawns flexible:
- e4 g6
- d4 Bg7
- Nc3 d6 (or 3…c5, 3…a6, 3…c6, etc.)
Black usually castles kingside quickly and decides later whether to strike with …c5, …e5 or …d5. A hallmark position is one in which Black’s bishop on g7 eyes the e5 and d4 squares while Black’s pawns sit on d6 and e7.
Strategic Ideas
- Hyper-modern concept: undermine, rather than immediately occupy, the centre.
- Flexible pawn breaks: …c5, …e5, or …d5 depending on White’s setup.
- Long-term pressure on the dark squares (d4, e5).
- Possibility to transpose to the Pirc Defense (by …Nf6 and …d6) or to the King’s Indian Defence (against 1.d4).
Historical Significance
Although ideas of fianchettoing the king’s-bishop go back to the 19th century, the Modern as an independent opening crystallised in the mid-20th century. Grandmasters such as Savielly Tartakower and later Bent Larsen championed it. In the computer era, elite players—including Magnus Carlsen—occasionally adopt the Modern as a surprise weapon.
Illustrative Example
The diagram shows Black pressuring the d4-pawn from two directions while remaining structurally sound.
Interesting Facts
- The ECO codes for the Modern are B06–B07.
- Because Black’s move order is so flexible, many “Modern” players are really preparing several openings at once.
- IM Cyrus Lakdawala once called the Modern “the Swiss-army knife of openings” because of its ability to transpose almost anywhere.
Pterodactyl Variation (Modern Defense)
Definition
The Pterodactyl Variation is an aggressive branch of the Modern Defense characterized by the immediate queenside thrust …c5 followed by …Qa5 (or sometimes …Qc7). The basic idea is to combine pressure on White’s centre with rapid piece activity on the long diagonal, creating a position that looks a bit like a reversed Sicilian Dragon—hence the whimsical dinosaur name.
Canonical Move Order
- e4 g6
- d4 Bg7
- Nc3 c5
- d5 Qa5
Other routes include 4.dxc5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Qa5 and even 3.Nf3 c5 4.dxc5 Qa5+.
Strategic Themes
- Immediate central pressure. …c5 challenges d4 before Black has committed to …d6 or …Nf6.
- Queenside pins. The queen on a5 (or c7) pins the c3-knight, discouraging an early c-pawn advance by White.
- Reversed Dragon motif. The bishop on g7 and queen on a5 mimic the long-range battery of the Sicilian Dragon—but with colors reversed.
- Dynamic imbalance. Black often concedes space yet gains rapid piece play and tactical chances.
Historical Notes & Nomenclature
The name “Pterodactyl” entered popular chess vocabulary after the 2005 book The Pterodactyl: A Fierce and Feisty Flank Opening by IM Tim Taylor. The imagery of a prehistoric creature “swooping” from the flank fit the appearance of the queen and bishop.
Famous Examples
While top-level adoption is rare, several instructive games exist:
- Taylor – Raitanen, Correspondence 2004: Black sacrifices a pawn with …Bxc3+ and wins after explosive queenside play.
- Miles – Bellón, Barcelona 1988: An early showcase of …Qa5 ideas leading to Black’s upset victory.
Sample Line
Notice how Black’s pieces bear down on c3 and d4, preparing a central break with …d5.
Fun Facts
- Because the queen develops so early, opponents who are unfamiliar often play natural moves that allow tactics such as …Bxc3+! or …Bxc3 followed by …Qb4+.
- Several club players keep the Pterodactyl as a one-game surprise precisely because it looks “unsound,” yet modern engines evaluate the main lines as roughly equal.
Beefeater Variation (Pterodactyl/Modern Defense)
Definition
The Beefeater Variation is a sharp sub-line of the Pterodactyl in which Black combines the typical …c5 and …Qa5 with an immediate bishop sacrifice idea on c3, often followed by a quick …f5 break. The nickname “Beefeater”—a playful reference to the guards at the Tower of London—was coined by English players who enjoyed the line’s tactical cut-and-thrust style.
Principal Move Order
- e4 g6
- d4 Bg7
- Nc3 c5
- d5 Qa5
- Bd2 Qb6 (or Qa6)
- Nf3 Bxc3 +
- Bxc3 f6 (!)
The immediate …f6 (or …f5 in some versions) aims to blast open the long diagonal before White can consolidate the extra piece.
Strategic & Tactical Motifs
- Piece sacrifice for central pawns. Black often gives up the light-squared bishop to shatter White’s queenside and central structure.
- Rapid pawn storms. …f6/…f5, …e6, and …d6 follow quickly, turning the g7-bishop into a monster.
- King safety trade-off. Black’s king remains in the centre or castles long, accepting risk for activity.
Theory Snapshot
The Beefeater is considered objectively risky; accurate defence can leave Black down a piece. Nevertheless, practical chances are high, especially in blitz or rapid.
Illustrative Game
After 15…Bg4, Black has regained the piece and threatens …Bxf3 followed by …Qxb2 with tremendous pressure.
Interesting Anecdotes
- The line gained its culinary nickname after a post-tournament pub discussion among London club players who had just “eaten up” White’s centre in several blitz games.
- IM Tim Taylor once quipped, “Serve the Beefeater medium-rare—if White overcooks it, the centre collapses.”
- A handful of correspondence players achieved 80% scores with the Beefeater in the early 2000s, relying on deep engine prep before it became widely known.
Practical Tips
- If you play the Beefeater, memorise the critical defensive resource 8.Qd2! for White, which shields the king and targets h6.
- Time trouble is your friend; the side with the extra piece must calculate accurately while you generate threats with every move.
- Even if the sacrifice is declined, the mere possibility forces White to play cautiously, often letting Black complete development comfortably.