Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl
Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl
Definition
The Modern Pterodactyl is a provocative hyper-modern system that arises
when Black combines the fianchetto of the king’s bishop
(...g7-Bg7) with an immediate counter-strike in the center by
...c5 (omitting the more usual ...d6). The name
was coined by British IM Michael Basman, who enjoyed attaching
flamboyant dinosaur labels to off-beat setups. The line is found in ECO
code B06 (Modern Defense) and occasionally under A40–A42 when reached
through 1.d4 move orders.
Typical Move Orders
The Pterodactyl can be reached from several starting points:
-
Against 1.e4
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5
Black immediately challenges the d4-pawn; after4. dxc5 Qa5the queen attacks both c5 and a2, while...Bxc3+is often in the air. -
Against 1.d4
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5
Sometimes called the Symmetrical Pterodactyl. Play may transpose to Benoni-type structures after4. d5. -
Through the Sicilian – a deceptive move order:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6. Black is ready for...Bg7,...Nc6, and a later...c5-c4strike, keeping Pterodactyl-style ideas.
Strategic Themes
- Dark-square domination. With bishops on g7 and sometimes b7, Black targets the long diagonals and pressures e4/e5 or d4/d5.
-
Piece play before pawn play. By delaying
...d6, Black keeps the c8-bishop flexible and avoids committing the d-pawn, inviting White to over-extend. -
Central tension & asymmetry. An early
...c5often provokesdxc5, allowing Black to recapture with a piece and obtain rapid development at the cost of a temporary pawn. -
Queen sorties. The trademark lunge
...Qa5hits c3 and a2/a7; in some lines the queen swings to h5 or d8 to renew pressure.
Model Mini-Game
One of Basman’s early demonstrations (London League, 1974):
Black regained the pawn, destroyed White’s center, and soon mobilized the kingside majority; the game ended in Basman’s favor on move 31.
Historical Notes
- Coinage. Michael Basman introduced the term in the early 1970s, joking that the bishop pair “spreads its wings like a prehistoric beast.”
- Sporadic Grandmaster use. Though never mainstream, the line has appeared in the hands of creative players such as Gawain Jones, Baadur Jobava, and even Magnus Carlsen (rapid & blitz).
- Theoretical status. Modern engines hold that precise play gives White a small plus, but the rarity of the variation makes it an effective surprise weapon, especially at club level.
Typical Plans for Each Side
-
Black
- Complete king-side development:
...Nf6, castle. - Pressure the center with
...d6or...Nc6, aiming at e4/d4. - Exploit queenside targets via
...Qa5and...Bxc3+. - Undermine with pawn breaks:
...f5(vs. e4) or...e6/...b5(vs. d4).
- Complete king-side development:
-
White
- Maintain the extra pawn after
dxc5by timely Be3-Qd2-0-0-0. - Grab space with f2-f4 (Austrian Attack style) or d4-d5.
- Develop rapidly to exploit Black’s delayed king safety.
- Prevent
...Qa5tactics with early a2-a3 or Bd2.
- Maintain the extra pawn after
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
-
Basman reportedly kept a plastic pterodactyl figurine next to the board
when giving simultaneous exhibitions, moving it forward each time he
played
...c5. - The line has inspired amusing nicknames such as the “Rad-Shelter” (because the king often hides on g8 behind a phalanx of pawns) and “Flying Dinosaur Defense.”
- In online bullet, the Pterodactyl scores surprisingly well; its tactical traps catch opponents who blitz out natural developing moves.
When to Use It
Choose the Modern Pterodactyl when:
- You crave unbalanced, tactical middlegames.
- Your opponent is a rigorous theoretician expecting mainline Modern or Sicilian play.
- You are comfortable playing with the queen early in the fray and don’t mind temporary pawn deficits.
Further Exploration
For players who enjoy the Pterodactyl, adjacent systems worth studying include the Modern Defense, the Tiger's Modern (with ...d6 & ...a6), and the Benoni Defense. Transition motifs abound, so understanding pawn-structure nuances is more valuable than rote memorization.