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Opening · 137 games

Magnus Carlsen in the Modern Defense

137 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Modern Defense, 2001 to 2025: 91 wins, 22 draws, 24 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.

Quick answer · Updated October 2026

Does Magnus Carlsen play the Modern Defense?

Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Modern Defense in 137 games in our database (2001–2025): 91 wins, 22 draws and 24 losses, a score of 74.5%. He had it 49 times with White (36–7–6) and 88 times with Black (55–15–18).

Type of event	Games	Carlsen won	Drawn	Opponent won	Carlsen score
Classical	8	4	2	2	62.5%
Rapid	13	8	3	2	73.1%
Blitz and bullet	103	70	16	17	75.7%
Other events	13	9	1	3	73.1%
All games	137	91	22	24	74.5%

First game in our databaseMagnus Carlsen vs KR Johansen · Troll Masters · 10 January 2001 · 1-0

Latest gameAlexander Grischuk vs Magnus Carlsen · World Blitz 2025 · 29 December 2025 · ½-½

Classical games8: 4–2–2 (won–drawn–lost)

His most played move order1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 (10 games)

Busiest year2023, with 26 games

Replay all 137 games Magnus Carlsen profile All Magnus openings Learn the Modern Defense Practice it in the trainer

Source: the Rama Chess database of 7,484 Magnus Carlsen games, 2001 to 2025 (many of his games, not all of them). Opening names follow the ECO code of each game. The type of event is read from the event name.

The opening

The Modern Defense: the starting moves

Modern Defense chess opening position after 1.e4 g6, board diagram — The Modern Defense starts with **1.e4 g6**.

In his own games the line he reached most often is **1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6** (10 games).

Best wins

Magnus Carlsen's Modern Defense wins against top players

Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Titled Tue 7th Jan Late · 7 January 2025 · Blitz and bullet · 38 moves
Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1SuperUnited CRO Blitz 2025 · 5 July 2025 · Blitz and bullet · 42 moves
Arjun Erigaisi vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1chess.com SpeedChess 2024 · 8 August 2024 · Blitz and bullet · 40 moves
Hans Niemann vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1SpeedChess Final 2024 · 6 September 2024 · Blitz and bullet · 45 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja, 1-0SpeedChess Final 2024 · 8 September 2024 · Blitz and bullet · 48 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Daniel Naroditsky, 1-0Bullet Chess Losers 2023 · 21 July 2023 · Blitz and bullet · 48 moves

Results by year

The Modern Defense by year (2001–2025)

Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won

Record · Updated October 2026

Magnus Carlsen's record in the Modern Defense

The Rama Chess archive holds 137 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Modern Defense, from 2001 to 2025. He won 91, drew 22 and lost 24, a score of 74.5%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).

He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 49 games as White (36 wins, 7 draws, 6 losses) and 88 games as Black (55 wins, 15 draws, 18 losses).

His most frequent opponents here are Hikaru Nakamura (16), Alireza Firouzja (9), Daniel Naroditsky (5). The earliest game is from 2001 (Troll Masters) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 7th Jan Late). The ECO code seen most often is B06.

Replay the games Magnus Carlsen profile All his openings Learn openings

By colour

With White and with Black

Carlsen played	Games	Won	Drawn	Lost	Score
White	49	36	7	6	81%
Black	88	55	15	18	71%
All games	137	91	22	24	74%

Year by year

Modern Defense games by year

Year	Games	Won	Drawn	Lost	Score
2001	1	1	0	0	100%
2003	2	1	1	0	75%
2005	1	1	0	0	100%
2007	1	0	0	1	0%
2009	1	1	0	0	100%
2010	3	1	1	1	50%
2012	2	1	0	1	50%
2014	2	2	0	0	100%
2015	2	1	0	1	50%
2016	6	6	0	0	100%
2017	5	4	0	1	80%
2019	3	3	0	0	100%
2020	6	4	0	2	67%
2021	14	11	1	2	82%
2022	20	11	5	4	68%
2023	26	12	8	6	62%
2024	19	13	2	4	74%
2025	23	18	4	1	87%

Opponents

Who he played most in the Modern Defense

Hikaru Nakamura · 16 Alireza Firouzja · 9 Daniel Naroditsky · 5TL Petrosian · 4Fabiano Caruana · 4 Ian Nepomniachtchi · 3Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso · 3Arjun Erigaisi · 3

All 137 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Modern Defense

Year

Game

ECO

Result