Pterodactyl

I was wondering if anyone knew when a book on the Pterodactyl will finally come out.

Eric Schiller keeps promising, but I notice that this project has been around since 2004, and still no book.

I have been researching games with the black position: Bg7, Pc5, Qa5.

The latest results in my database are very promising. 60% of the games end decisively, with black winning 50% or more of the time.

Detractors of the opening concept complain that it is to easy to wind up on the wrong side of a bad Benoni or Maroczy Bind, However, there are ways for Black to avoid these set-ups through clever move orders.

I will admit that this opening is not for the faint of heart. Black often wins material, but some of the white attacks appear hair raising.

Until a book comes out, I guess I will have to study the information on this opening already disseminated by Schiller, and run all the lines past Rybka for possible improvements in the more topical lines.....

The Pterodactyl? How does that opening go?

See http://www.chess.com/article/view/take-flight-with-the-pterodactyl

Thanks for the link! This looks like a really cool system. In the article, the comments say that he is making an e-book and he said that it should be out "real soon" four months ago.

So I have taken a look at the opening, and I am at a loss as to how to use these "clever move orders." Can you give some examples?

well, I can't wait for this book

This is advocated by IM Andrew Martin, and he has made some videos on it for ChessCube.

Some examples of move order finagling to get better Pteros:

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4, and now 3.... d6 instead of the immediate 3....c5.

This allows white the opportunity to play 4. Nc3. Now 4....c5 5. d5 or 5. dxc5 allows Black to play Bxc3 when Black can close up the position and then look to squash any active white play and aim for the endgame where his better pawn structure would be an advantage.

4. Nc3 c5 5. Nf3 Qa5 is standard Ptero Stuff. Black wins the majority of the games from this position.

On d4 openings:

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3 5. bxc3 f5... Black wins the majority of these games too.

In general, I have found that if Black can get a situation where he can play Bxc3 at an advantageous moment he can, at best, win material and bust white's pawn structure, and have the resources to squash white's initiative, and at worst, will often be able to reach an endgame with a better pawn structure than white.

For some good examples, check out the games of Sermek.....

Thanks for the help! I've recently been reluctant to trade off that bishop, but now I guess it can often be a good option.

I have been playing the pterodactyl now, mostly against d4 openings or the english, and it has been working quite well for me so far.