Magnus Collection › Openings › Petrov Defense
Opening · 91 games
Magnus Carlsen in the Petrov Defense
91 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Petrov Defense, 2001 to 2025: 43 wins, 33 draws, 15 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.
Quick answer · Updated October 2026
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Petrov Defense?
Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Petrov Defense in 91 games in our database (2001–2025): 43 wins, 33 draws and 15 losses, a score of 65.4%. He had it 75 times with White (39–28–8) and 16 times with Black (4–5–7).
| Type of event | Games | Carlsen won | Drawn | Opponent won | Carlsen score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 30 | 10 | 15 | 5 | 58.3% |
| Rapid | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 73.5% |
| Blitz and bullet | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 66.2% |
| Armageddon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 75.0% |
| Other events | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 68.8% |
| All games | 91 | 43 | 33 | 15 | 65.4% |
First game in our databaseC Grubert vs Magnus Carlsen · Troll Masters · 9 January 2001 · 1-0
Latest gameMagnus Carlsen vs Z Tsydypov · Titled Tue 10th Jun Early · 10 June 2025 · 1-0
Classical games30: 10–15–5 (won–drawn–lost)
His most played move order1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 (63 games)
Busiest year2023, with 22 games
Replay all 91 gamesMagnus Carlsen profileAll Magnus openingsLearn the Petrov DefensePractice 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 Petrov Defense: the starting moves
In his own games the line he reached most often is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 (63 games).
Best wins
Magnus Carlsen's Petrov Defense wins against top players
- Magnus Carlsen vs Richard Rapport, 1-085th Tata Steel Masters · 21 January 2023 · Classical · 36 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi, 1-0WCh 2021 · 5 December 2021 · Classical · 46 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov, 1-0FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss · 15 October 2019 · Classical · 43 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 1-0Superbet POL Rapid 2024 · 9 May 2024 · Rapid · 107 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi, 1-0chess.com SpeedChess 2024 · 8 August 2024 · Blitz and bullet · 52 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi, 1-0chess.com SpeedChess 2024 · 8 August 2024 · Blitz and bullet · 42 moves
Results by year
The Petrov Defense by year (2001–2025)
Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won
Record · Updated October 2026
Magnus Carlsen's record in the Petrov Defense
The Rama Chess archive holds 91 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Petrov Defense, from 2001 to 2025. He won 43, drew 33 and lost 15, a score of 65.4%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).
He has had this opening on the board mostly with White: 75 games as White (39 wins, 28 draws, 8 losses) and 16 games as Black (4 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses).
His most frequent opponents here are Ian Nepomniachtchi (12), Fabiano Caruana (9), Arjun Erigaisi (4). The earliest game is from 2001 (Troll Masters) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 25th Feb Late). The ECO code seen most often is C42.
By colour
With White and with Black
| Carlsen played | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 75 | 39 | 28 | 8 | 71% |
| Black | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 41% |
| All games | 91 | 43 | 33 | 15 | 65% |
Year by year
Petrov Defense games by year
| Year | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33% |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| 2005 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 35% |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33% |
| 2007 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 67% |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2017 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50% |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2021 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 62% |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 62% |
| 2023 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 75% |
| 2024 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 77% |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 83% |
Opponents
Who he played most in the Petrov Defense
All 91 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Petrov Defense
Year
Game
ECO
Result
2001
C Grubert vs Magnus Carlsen
Troll Masters
C42
1–0
2001
Magnus Carlsen vs A Moen
Troll Masters
C42
0–1
2001
Oivind Hagberg vs Magnus Carlsen
Open NOR-ch
C42
0–1
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs E Rozentalis
Politiken Cup
C42
½–½
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs Kateri Lahno
5th YM
C42
0–1
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Corus B
C42
½–½
2005
J Smeets vs Magnus Carlsen
Corus B
C42
1–0
2005
Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen
18th Rapid KO
C42
1–0
2005
Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen
18th Rapid KO
C42
1–0
2005
P Smirnov vs Magnus Carlsen
6th EICC
C42
½–½
2005
K Lie vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR
C42
1–0
2005
R Djurhuus vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR
C42
0–1
2005
And Volokitin vs Magnus Carlsen
GM
C42
½–½
2005
Pentala Harikrishna vs Magnus Carlsen
6th YM
C42
1–0
2005
E Paehtz vs Magnus Carlsen
6th YM
C42
0–1
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs H Koneru
Corus B
C42
½–½
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs S Erenburg
World Blitz
C42
0–1
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov
Tal Memorial
C42
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs PH Nielsen
Faaborg Midtfyn Blindfold Cup
C42
1–0
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Anatoly Karpov
World Blitz
C42
1–0
2007
Gata Kamsky vs Magnus Carlsen
World Cup
C43
1–0
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Vladimir Kramnik
Amber Rapid
C42
½–½
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs A Kosteniuk
World Blitz
C43
0–1
2010
Magnus Carlsen vs Wang Yue
3rd Pearl Spring
C43
1–0
2011
Magnus Carlsen vs Vladimir Kramnik
20th Amber Blindfold
C42
1–0
2012
Magnus Carlsen vs Anish Giri
45th Biel GM
C42
½–½
2013
Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen
75th Tata Steel GpA
C42
½–½
2015
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk
World Rapid 2015
C42
1–0
2016
Magnus Carlsen vs Hou Yifan
78th Tata Steel GpA
C42
1–0
2016
Magnus Carlsen vs Bu Xiangzhi
World Blitz 2016
C42
1–0
2017
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
4th GRENKE Chess Classic
C42
½–½
2017
Magnus Carlsen vs J Granda Zuniga
chess.com IoM Masters
C42
1–0
2018
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
80th Tata Steel GpA
C42
½–½
2018
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
6th Sinquefield Cup 2018
C42
½–½
2018
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
WCh 2018
C42
½–½
2018
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
WCh 2018
C42
½–½
2019
Magnus Carlsen vs Yu Yangyi
Saint Louis Blitz 2019
C42
0–1
2019
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov
FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss
C43
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Bu Xiangzhi
FIDE Steinitz Mem Open
C42
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian
Lindores Abbey Prelim
C42
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
Clutch Chess Showdown Int
C42
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
Clutch Chess Showdown Int
C42
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Parham Maghsoodloo
chess.com Speed 2020
C42
1–0
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
WCh 2021
C42
½–½
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
WCh 2021
C43
1–0
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
WCh 2021
C42
½–½
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi
World Blitz 2021
C42
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Charity Cup KO 2022
C42
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Leinier Dominguez
SuperUnited Blitz 2022
C42
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
chess.com SpeedChess 2022
C42
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
chess.com SpeedChess 2022
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Richard Rapport
85th Tata Steel Masters
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Masoud Mosadeghpour
Titled Tue 31st Jan Late
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Yu Yangyi
Titled Tue 28th Feb Late
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Jose Martinez
Titled Tue 21st Mar Late
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Bogdan-Daniel Deac
Superbet Blitz 2023
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja
11th Norway Armageddon
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov
11th Norway Armageddon
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov
11th Norway Chess 2023
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Iv Saric
AimChess Play-In Match
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
Global Chess League 2023
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Yoav Milikow
Titled Tue 27th Jun Late
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs D Paravyan
Titled Tue 12th Sep Late
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
C42
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Wesley So
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
AI Cup Div 1 W
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
AI Cup Div 1 W
C42
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs AL Muthaiah
Qatar Masters Open 2023
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
CCT Final Playoff 2023
C42
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Yu Yangyi
World Blitz 2023
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Vl3 Fedoseev
Chessable Masters Div 1 W
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Superbet POL Rapid 2024
C43
1–0
2024
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Chess.com Classic Div 1 W
C43
½–½
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs P Koc
Titled Tue 18th Jun Late
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Mukhiddin Madaminov
Titled Tue 18th Jun Early
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi
chess.com SpeedChess 2024
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi
chess.com SpeedChess 2024
C42
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi
chess.com SpeedChess 2024
C42
1–0
2024
Olexandr Bortnyk vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 20th Aug Late
C42
½–½
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Bogdan-Daniel Deac
Titled Tue 3rd Sep Late
C42
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Marco Riehle
Titled Tue 1st Oct Late
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Wesley So
Tata Steel India Rapid
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
CCT Final RR 2024
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs D Kadric
World Rapid 2024
C42
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
World Blitz 2024
C42
½–½
2025
Antoni Szustakowski vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 25th Feb Late
C42
0–1
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Jeffery Xiong
Titled Tue 13th May Late
C42
½–½
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Z Tsydypov
Titled Tue 10th Jun Early
C42
1–0
Questions
Magnus Carlsen and the Petrov Defense: questions and answers
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Petrov Defense?
Yes. Our database has 91 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Petrov Defense from 2001–2025: 75 with White and 16 with Black.
What is Magnus Carlsen's record in the Petrov Defense?
43 wins, 33 draws and 15 losses in 91 games, a score of 65.4%. With White 39–28–8, with Black 4–5–7 (won–drawn–lost).
Has Magnus Carlsen played the Petrov Defense in classical chess?
Yes, 30 games in classical events in our database (10–15–5). The other games come from rapid, blitz and other events.
Which line of the Petrov Defense does Carlsen play most?
The move order seen most often in his games is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 (63 games).
What are Magnus Carlsen's best Petrov Defense games?
Good places to start are his wins against top players: Magnus Carlsen vs Richard Rapport (85th Tata Steel Masters, 2023); Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi (WCh 2021, 2021); Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov (FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss, 2019); Magnus Carlsen vs Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Superbet POL Rapid 2024, 2024).
When did Magnus Carlsen last play the Petrov Defense?
The latest game in our database is Magnus Carlsen vs Z Tsydypov at the Titled Tue 10th Jun Early (10 June 2025), result 1-0.
Can I replay Magnus Carlsen's Petrov Defense games?
Yes. All 91 games are listed on this page. Each one opens on a board where you can step through the moves, check them with the engine, or practise the position.
All numbers count the games in the Rama Chess database (2001 to 2025), not every game he has ever played.