Magnus Collection › Openings › Benko Gambit
Opening · 29 games
Magnus Carlsen in the Benko Gambit
29 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Benko Gambit, 2001 to 2025: 20 wins, 8 draws, 1 loss. Every game can be replayed move by move.
Quick answer · Updated October 2026
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Benko Gambit?
Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Benko Gambit in 29 games in our database (2001–2025): 20 wins, 8 draws and 1 losses, a score of 82.8%. He had it 6 times with White (4–2–0) and 23 times with Black (16–6–1).
| Type of event | Games | Carlsen won | Drawn | Opponent won | Carlsen score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 70.0% |
| Rapid | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Blitz and bullet | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 91.7% |
| Other events | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 75.0% |
| All games | 29 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 82.8% |
First game in our databaseMagnus Carlsen vs T Thorhallsson · Nordic Championships · 5 August 2001 · ½-½
Latest gameSaA Manukyan vs Magnus Carlsen · Titled Tue 4th Feb Late · 4 February 2025 · 0-1
Classical games5: 2–3–0 (won–drawn–lost)
His most played move order1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 (23 games)
Busiest year2021, with 7 games
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 Benko Gambit: the starting moves
In his own games the line he reached most often is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 (23 games).
Best wins
Magnus Carlsen's Benko Gambit wins against top players
- Eric Hansen vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Bullet Chess Winners 2023 · 17 July 2023 · Blitz and bullet · 29 moves
- Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Magnus-Alireza Bullet · 22 February 2021 · Other events · 30 moves
- Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021 · 22 February 2021 · Blitz and bullet · 17 moves
- Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Magnus-Alireza 27th Feb · 27 February 2021 · Other events · 33 moves
- D Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Carlsen vs. Challengers · 19 April 2021 · Other events · 32 moves
- Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Zurich CC Rapid 2014 · 4 February 2014 · Rapid · 23 moves
Results by year
The Benko Gambit by year (2001–2025)
Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won
Record · Updated October 2026
Magnus Carlsen's record in the Benko Gambit
The Rama Chess archive holds 29 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Benko Gambit, from 2001 to 2025. He won 20, drew 8 and lost 1, a score of 82.8%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).
He has had this opening on the board mostly with Black: 6 games as White (4 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses) and 23 games as Black (16 wins, 6 draws, 1 loss).
His most frequent opponents here are Alireza Firouzja (3), Boris Gelfand (2), T Thorhallsson (1). The earliest game is from 2001 (Nordic Championships) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 4th Feb Late). The ECO code seen most often is A58.
By colour
With White and with Black
| Carlsen played | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 83% |
| Black | 23 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 83% |
| All games | 29 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 83% |
Year by year
Benko Gambit games by year
| Year | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2006 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 80% |
| 2007 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 50% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2021 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 93% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Opponents
Who he played most in the Benko Gambit
Alireza Firouzja · 3Boris Gelfand · 2T Thorhallsson · 1M Calzetta · 1Viswanathan Anand · 1LE Johannessen · 1Teimour Radjabov · 1L Ljubojevic · 1
All 29 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Benko Gambit
Year
Game
ECO
Result
2001
Magnus Carlsen vs T Thorhallsson
Nordic Championships
A57
½–½
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs M Calzetta
Claude Pecaut Mem
A58
1–0
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand
Glitnir Blitz
A58
1–0
2006
LE Johannessen vs Magnus Carlsen
Midnight Sun
A58
0–1
2006
Teimour Radjabov vs Magnus Carlsen
GM
A58
½–½
2006
L Ljubojevic vs Magnus Carlsen
NH Hotels
A58
½–½
2006
Etienne Bacrot vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
A58
0–1
2007
Stef Pedersen vs Magnus Carlsen
Faaborg Midtfyn Blindfold Cup
A59
1–0
2007
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
WCh Candidates s/f
A58
½–½
2007
Al Onischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
GM Blitz Playoff
A58
½–½
2007
V Milov vs Magnus Carlsen
23rd ECC Men
A57
½–½
2007
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
A57
0–1
2008
L Van Wely vs Magnus Carlsen
Corus A
A58
0–1
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Pa Hansen
BNbank Blitz GpA
A58
1–0
2011
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
20th Amber Rapid
A59
0–1
2012
Magnus Carlsen vs Dmitry Andreikin
World Blitz Final
A59
½–½
2012
Magnus Carlsen vs V Bologan
45th Biel GM
A59
1–0
2014
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
Zurich CC Rapid 2014
A58
0–1
2020
I Cheparinov vs Magnus Carlsen
Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup
A58
0–1
2021
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus-Alireza Bullet
A57
0–1
2021
Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021
A57
0–1
2021
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus-Alireza 27th Feb
A58
½–½
2021
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus-Alireza 27th Feb
A57
0–1
2021
Ar Kogan vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen vs. Challengers
A57
0–1
2021
D Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen vs. Challengers
A58
0–1
2021
Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso vs Magnus Carlsen
Katara Bullet Final 2021
A59
0–1
2023
Eric Hansen vs Magnus Carlsen
Bullet Chess Winners 2023
A57
0–1
2024
E Toniutti vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 21st May Late
A57
0–1
2025
SaA Manukyan vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 4th Feb Late
A58
0–1
Questions
Magnus Carlsen and the Benko Gambit: questions and answers
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Benko Gambit?
Yes. Our database has 29 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Benko Gambit from 2001–2025: 6 with White and 23 with Black.
What is Magnus Carlsen's record in the Benko Gambit?
20 wins, 8 draws and 1 losses in 29 games, a score of 82.8%. With White 4–2–0, with Black 16–6–1 (won–drawn–lost).
Has Magnus Carlsen played the Benko Gambit in classical chess?
Yes, 5 games in classical events in our database (2–3–0). The other games come from rapid, blitz and other events.
Which line of the Benko Gambit does Carlsen play most?
The move order seen most often in his games is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 (23 games).
What are Magnus Carlsen's best Benko Gambit games?
Good places to start are his wins against top players: Eric Hansen vs Magnus Carlsen (Bullet Chess Winners 2023, 2023); Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen (Magnus-Alireza Bullet, 2021); Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen (Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021, 2021); Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen (Magnus-Alireza 27th Feb, 2021).
When did Magnus Carlsen last play the Benko Gambit?
The latest game in our database is SaA Manukyan vs Magnus Carlsen at the Titled Tue 4th Feb Late (4 February 2025), result 0-1.
Can I replay Magnus Carlsen's Benko Gambit games?
Yes. All 29 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.