About This Game
Magnus Carlsen and SA Aarland met over the board in this full-length game at TCh-NOR Finals in 2002. It was played in round 3. The game dates from the modern computer-influenced era.
Play followed Queen's Gambit Declined (D37) — a fight over the centre. Here the struggle often turns on the central pawns and minor-piece play.
Running to 58 moves, the game moved through a full middlegame into an endgame, showing how an advantage is carried between phases.
Magnus Carlsen is one of the grandmasters featured in the RamaChess archive, where you can browse their complete game collection, favourite openings and notable wins.
Games like this are useful at every level: opening principles for beginners, middlegame plans for club players, fine technique for experts.
In the end, the game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and SA Aarland. Step through the moves on the interactive board above and try the position trainer to sharpen your own play.
Frequently asked questions
Who played this game?
This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and SA Aarland (Black), at TCh-NOR Finals in 2002.
What opening was played?
The game used Queen's Gambit Declined (ECO code D37). A fight over the centre.
What was the result?
The game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and SA Aarland.
How long was the game?
The game lasted 58 moves (115 plies).
Can I replay this game move by move?
Yes. Use the interactive board on this page to step through every move, or open the analyser and Practice mode.
Where can I find more games like this?
Browse the full Queen's Gambit Declined collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.