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Opening · 32 games

Magnus Carlsen in the Philidor Defense

32 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Philidor Defense, 2007 to 2025: 14 wins, 9 draws, 9 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.

Quick answer · Updated October 2026

Does Magnus Carlsen play the Philidor Defense?

Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Philidor Defense in 32 games in our database (2007–2025): 14 wins, 9 draws and 9 losses, a score of 57.8%. He had it 12 times with White (7–1–4) and 20 times with Black (7–8–5).

Type of event	Games	Carlsen won	Drawn	Opponent won	Carlsen score
Classical	3	1	2	0	66.7%
Rapid	6	2	2	2	50.0%
Blitz and bullet	20	9	5	6	57.5%
Other events	3	2	0	1	66.7%
All games	32	14	9	9	57.8%

First game in our databaseMagnus Carlsen vs Etienne Bacrot · World Blitz · 22 November 2007 · 1-0

Latest gameFabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen · World Blitz 2025 · 29 December 2025 · 1-0

Classical games3: 1–2–0 (won–drawn–lost)

His most played move order1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 (13 games)

Busiest year2025, with 12 games

Replay all 32 games Magnus Carlsen profile All Magnus openings

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 Philidor Defense: the starting moves

Philidor Defense chess opening position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6, board diagram — The Philidor Defense starts with **1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6**.

In his own games the line he reached most often is **1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7** (13 games).

Best wins

Magnus Carlsen's Philidor Defense wins against top players

D Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Clutch Chess: Champions · 27 October 2025 · Other events · 34 moves
Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1chess.com SpeedChess 2025 · 14 November 2025 · Blitz and bullet · 49 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Olexandr Bortnyk, 1-0Titled Tue 23rd May Late · 23 May 2023 · Blitz and bullet · 49 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Eric Hansen, 1-0Bullet Chess Winners 2023 · 17 July 2023 · Blitz and bullet · 52 moves
Leinier Dominguez vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Saint Louis Rapid 2020 · 16 September 2020 · Rapid · 41 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana, 1-0FIDE World Rapid 2014 · 17 June 2014 · Rapid · 38 moves

Results by year

The Philidor Defense by year (2007–2025)

Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won

Record · Updated October 2026

Magnus Carlsen's record in the Philidor Defense

The Rama Chess archive holds 32 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Philidor Defense, from 2007 to 2025. He won 14, drew 9 and lost 9, a score of 57.8%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).

He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 12 games as White (7 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses) and 20 games as Black (7 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses).

His most frequent opponents here are Fabiano Caruana (4), Sergey Karjakin (2), Daniil Dubov (2). The earliest game is from 2007 (World Blitz) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 4th Mar Early). The ECO code seen most often is C41.

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	12	7	1	4	62%
Black	20	7	8	5	55%
All games	32	14	9	9	58%

Year by year

Philidor Defense games by year

Year	Games	Won	Drawn	Lost	Score
2007	1	1	0	0	100%
2008	1	1	0	0	100%
2011	1	0	1	0	50%
2012	1	0	0	1	0%
2013	1	0	0	1	0%
2014	1	1	0	0	100%
2017	1	0	1	0	50%
2019	1	1	0	0	100%
2020	4	1	1	2	38%
2022	1	0	0	1	0%
2023	3	2	1	0	83%
2024	4	1	3	0	62%
2025	12	6	2	4	58%

Opponents

Who he played most in the Philidor Defense

Fabiano Caruana · 4 Sergey Karjakin · 2 Daniil Dubov · 2 Olexandr Bortnyk · 2 Jose Martinez · 2 Etienne Bacrot · 1 Teimour Radjabov · 1 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov · 1

All 32 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Philidor Defense

Year

Game

ECO

Result