About This Game
A middlegame battle in which Vi Hansen was paired against Magnus Carlsen at 15th Open in 2002. It was played in round 4. The game dates from the modern computer-influenced era.
The game opened with Slav Defense (D12), a fight over the centre. Here the struggle often turns on the central pawns and minor-piece play.
Lasting 30 moves, the game was settled in the middlegame, where piece activity, pawn breaks and king safety all collide.
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.
Working through a full game like this trains pattern recognition — the more you study, the faster you spot familiar ideas in your own play.
After the contest, Magnus Carlsen won with the black pieces. Use the board above to replay every move, switch to the analyser for engine evaluation, or open Practice mode to test your own ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Who played this game?
This game was played between Vi Hansen (White) and Magnus Carlsen (Black), at 15th Open in 2002.
What opening was played?
The game used Slav Defense (ECO code D12). A fight over the centre.
What was the result?
Magnus Carlsen won with the black pieces.
How long was the game?
The game lasted 30 moves (60 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 Slav Defense collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.