Modern Defense: Standard, Pterodactyl Defense
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5
In this fancifully-named opening, Black takes the "dark-square strategy" to its logical limit. The black bishop is fianchettoed and the flank blow ...c5 strives to break open the diagonal.
Pros:
- Unusual
- Little theory
- Sharp and aggressive
Cons:
- After 4.dxc5 Black can have trouble getting the pawn back
- Black is often required to give up the two bishops by ...Bxc3+
- White can choose to lead the game into a Dragon or a Benoni