Magnus Collection › Openings › Queen's Indian Defense
Opening · 236 games
Magnus Carlsen in the Queen's Indian Defense
236 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Queen's Indian Defense, 2002 to 2025: 103 wins, 86 draws, 47 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.
Quick answer · Updated October 2026
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Queen's Indian Defense?
Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Queen's Indian Defense in 236 games in our database (2002–2025): 103 wins, 86 draws and 47 losses, a score of 61.9%. He had it 87 times with White (51–30–6) and 149 times with Black (52–56–41).
| Type of event | Games | Carlsen won | Drawn | Opponent won | Carlsen score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 76 | 27 | 38 | 11 | 60.5% |
| Rapid | 48 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 61.5% |
| Blitz and bullet | 66 | 38 | 13 | 15 | 67.4% |
| Knockout tie-breaks | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 70.0% |
| Other events | 41 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 54.9% |
| All games | 236 | 103 | 86 | 47 | 61.9% |
First game in our databaseC Hoi vs Magnus Carlsen · Troll Masters · 7 January 2002 · 1-0
Latest gameMagnus Carlsen vs Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli · World Rapid 2025 · 26 December 2025 · 1-0
Classical games76: 27–38–11 (won–drawn–lost)
His most played move order1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 (56 games)
Busiest year2007, with 31 games
Replay all 236 gamesMagnus Carlsen profileAll Magnus openingsLearn the Queen's Indian 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 Queen's Indian Defense: the starting moves
In his own games the line he reached most often is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 (56 games).
Best wins
Magnus Carlsen's Queen's Indian Defense wins against top players
- Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi, 1-09th Sinquefield Cup 2022 · 2 September 2022 · Classical · 43 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Pentala Harikrishna, 1-04th Norway Chess 2016 · 19 April 2016 · Classical · 41 moves
- Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-16th Tal Memorial · 25 November 2011 · Classical · 58 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian, 1-0WCh Candidates s/f · 1 June 2007 · Classical · 49 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Jose Martinez, 1-0Titled Tue 21st Jan Late · 21 January 2025 · Blitz and bullet · 34 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja, 1-0Esports World Cup 2025 · 1 August 2025 · Rapid · 45 moves
Results by year
The Queen's Indian Defense by year (2002–2025)
Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won
Record · Updated October 2026
Magnus Carlsen's record in the Queen's Indian Defense
The Rama Chess archive holds 236 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Queen's Indian Defense, from 2002 to 2025. He won 103, drew 86 and lost 47, a score of 61.9%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).
He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 87 games as White (51 wins, 30 draws, 6 losses) and 149 games as Black (52 wins, 56 draws, 41 losses).
His most frequent opponents here are Levon Aronian (16), Hikaru Nakamura (12), Daniil Dubov (10). The earliest game is from 2002 (Troll Masters) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 21st Jan Late). The ECO code seen most often is E15.
By colour
With White and with Black
| Carlsen played | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87 | 51 | 30 | 6 | 76% |
| Black | 149 | 52 | 56 | 41 | 54% |
| All games | 236 | 103 | 86 | 47 | 62% |
Year by year
Queen's Indian Defense games by year
| Year | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| 2003 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| 2004 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2005 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 65% |
| 2006 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 57% |
| 2007 | 31 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 58% |
| 2008 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 55% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2010 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 50% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 57% |
| 2012 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 64% |
| 2013 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 67% |
| 2014 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 67% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 62% |
| 2016 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 86% |
| 2017 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 81% |
| 2018 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50% |
| 2020 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 42% |
| 2021 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 38% |
| 2022 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 62% |
| 2023 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 61% |
| 2024 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 76% |
| 2025 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 79% |
Opponents
Who he played most in the Queen's Indian Defense
All 236 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Queen's Indian Defense
Year
Game
ECO
Result
2002
C Hoi vs Magnus Carlsen
Troll Masters
E14
1–0
2002
E Solozhenkin vs Magnus Carlsen
IV Shakkinet A
E11
1–0
2002
Y Yakovich vs Magnus Carlsen
Open
E12
1–0
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs A Lugovoi
Troll Masters
E15
½–½
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs E Berg
Classics GM
E15
0–1
2003
H Kallio vs Magnus Carlsen
Classics GM
E18
1–0
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs S Kristjansson
Classics GM
E15
½–½
2003
Vi Hansen vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-Barents Region A
E13
½–½
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs R Fyllingen
ch-NOR
E15
½–½
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs C Ward
25th Politiken Cup
E13
1–0
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs H Koneru
25th Politiken Cup
E15
1–0
2004
T Bosboom Lanchava vs Magnus Carlsen
GMC
E11
0–1
2004
H Nordahl vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR
E12
0–1
2004
G Tallaksen vs Magnus Carlsen
GM Classic
E12
0–1
2005
Si Williams vs Magnus Carlsen
GMA
E12
1–0
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs Z Efimenko
6th EICC
E15
½–½
2005
A Riazantsev vs Magnus Carlsen
6th EICC
E12
0–1
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs G Tallaksen
ch-NOR
E15
1–0
2005
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
GM
E12
½–½
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs E Paehtz
6th YM
E11
1–0
2005
De Antic vs Magnus Carlsen
Bygger'n Masters
E15
0–1
2005
Ba Jobava vs Magnus Carlsen
2nd Samba Cup
E12
0–1
2005
S Agdestein vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR Rapid Playoff
E15
1–0
2005
S Agdestein vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR Rapid Playoff
E15
½–½
2005
S Agdestein vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR Rapid Playoff
E15
1–0
2005
Z Azmaiparashvili vs Magnus Carlsen
WCC
E12
0–1
2005
I Cheparinov vs Magnus Carlsen
WCC
E15
0–1
2006
PH Nielsen vs Magnus Carlsen
Fibertex Cup Blindfold
E15
1–0
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs L Galego
XXII Open
E11
1–0
2006
Si Williams vs Magnus Carlsen
Glitnir Blitz Prelim
E12
0–1
2006
H Stefansson vs Magnus Carlsen
Glitnir Blitz
E15
0–1
2006
F Doettling vs Magnus Carlsen
VII Dos Hermanas Internet
E12
1–0
2006
L Van Wely vs Magnus Carlsen
DSB Match
E15
1–0
2006
L Van Wely vs Magnus Carlsen
DSB Match
E15
½–½
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs K Sasikiran
XXXVI Bosnia GM
E12
½–½
2006
B Macieja vs Magnus Carlsen
37th Olympiad
E15
½–½
2006
L Andreassen vs Magnus Carlsen
Midnight Sun
E15
0–1
2006
G Tallaksen vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR
E15
½–½
2006
Y Pelletier vs Magnus Carlsen
GM
E15
0–1
2006
Zhao Xue vs Magnus Carlsen
GpB
E12
0–1
2006
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
Tal Memorial
E15
1–0
2007
PH Nielsen vs Magnus Carlsen
Faaborg Midtfyn Blindfold Cup
E18
½–½
2007
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
Corus A
E15
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian
XXIV SuperGM
E15
½–½
2007
Peter Leko vs Magnus Carlsen
XXIV SuperGM
E15
1–0
2007
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Blindfold
E15
½–½
2007
F Vallejo Pons vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Blindfold
E16
1–0
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk
Amber Rapid
E15
1–0
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Morozevich
Amber Rapid
E11
1–0
2007
Alexander Morozevich vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Blindfold
E15
1–0
2007
L Van Wely vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Rapid
E15
0–1
2007
R Kempinski vs Magnus Carlsen
Bundesliga 2006-7
E15
½–½
2007
Teimour Radjabov vs Magnus Carlsen
Match of the Hopes
E15
1–0
2007
Teimour Radjabov vs Magnus Carlsen
Match of the Hopes
E15
½–½
2007
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
WCh Candidates s/f
E14
1–0
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian
WCh Candidates s/f
E12
1–0
2007
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
WCh Candidates s/f
E10
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian
WCh Candidates s/f
E12
1–0
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Evgeny Alekseev
Sparkassen GM
E18
½–½
2007
Al Onischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
GM Blitz Playoff
E15
½–½
2007
S Agdestein vs Magnus Carlsen
Arctic Chess Challenge
E15
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs V Epishin
Arctic Chess Challenge
E16
1–0
2007
Veselin Topalov vs Magnus Carlsen
Blindfold World Cup
E17
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs S Tiviakov
ETCC
E17
1–0
2007
Etienne Bacrot vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
E15
0–1
2007
Anatoly Karpov vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
E15
0–1
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Peter Leko
World Blitz
E12
½–½
2007
A Dreev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
E12
0–1
2007
R Ponomariov vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
E15
1–0
2007
A Korotylev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
E12
1–0
2007
Zhao Zong Yuan vs Magnus Carlsen
World Cup
E12
0–1
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Zhao Zong Yuan
World Cup
E11
1–0
2008
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
XXV SuperGM
E17
½–½
2008
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Rapid
E17
½–½
2008
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Rapid
E12
0–1
2008
Vladimir Kramnik vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Blindfold
E17
1–0
2008
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE GP
E17
1–0
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Peter Leko
Rapid Match
E12
½–½
2008
Peter Svidler vs Magnus Carlsen
Aerosvit
E15
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Evgeny Alekseev
Aerosvit
E17
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Y Pelletier
41st Festival GM
E15
1–0
2008
Evgeny Alekseev vs Magnus Carlsen
41st Festival GM
E15
½–½
2008
Y Pelletier vs Magnus Carlsen
41st Festival GM
E15
0–1
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand
13th GrenkeLeasing Rapid WCh
E15
½–½
2008
Alexander Morozevich vs Magnus Carlsen
13th GrenkeLeasing Rapid WCh
E17
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Ju Polgar
13th GrenkeLeasing Rapid WCh
E10
½–½
2008
Vladimir Kramnik vs Magnus Carlsen
Tal Memorial Blitz
E15
1–0
2008
Evgeny Alekseev vs Magnus Carlsen
Tal Memorial Blitz
E15
0–1
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Anatoly Karpov
Tal Memorial Blitz
E15
1–0
2008
Alexander Grischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
Tal Memorial Blitz
E15
1–0
2008
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Magnus Carlsen
Tal Memorial Blitz
E15
1–0
2008
A Huzman vs Magnus Carlsen
24th ECC
E15
0–1
2008
S Feller vs Magnus Carlsen
Trophee CCAS GpB
E13
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Mi Adams
38th Olympiad
E17
1–0
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs V Gashimov
World Blitz
E15
1–0
2010
Magnus Carlsen vs L Galego
39th Olympiad Men
E11
1–0
2010
Vladimir Kramnik vs Magnus Carlsen
Grand Slam Final Masters
E15
1–0
2010
Etienne Bacrot vs Magnus Carlsen
3rd Pearl Spring
E15
½–½
2010
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen
VI World Blitz
E15
0–1
2010
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
VI World Blitz
E15
1–0
2011
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
20th Amber Blindfold
E15
½–½
2011
Alexander Grischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
20th Amber Blindfold
E15
½–½
2011
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin
5th Kings Tournament
E12
½–½
2011
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
Botvinnik Memorial
E15
½–½
2011
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
6th Tal Memorial
E15
½–½
2011
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin
6th Tal Memorial
E12
½–½
2011
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
6th Tal Memorial
E15
0–1
2012
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
7th Mikhail Tal Memorial
E10
½–½
2012
R Jumabayev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz Final
E15
0–1
2012
Wang Hao vs Magnus Carlsen
45th Biel GM
E15
0–1
2012
Anish Giri vs Magnus Carlsen
45th Biel GM
E15
½–½
2012
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin
5th Final Masters
E15
½–½
2012
Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen
5th Final Masters
E18
½–½
2012
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
5th Final Masters
E18
½–½
2013
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE Candidates
E11
½–½
2013
J Hammer vs Magnus Carlsen
Norway Supreme Masters Blitz 2013
E15
0–1
2013
Magnus Carlsen vs Dmitry Andreikin
8th Tal Mem Blitz
E15
½–½
2014
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin
Vugar Gashimov Mem 2014
E15
½–½
2014
Magnus Carlsen vs S Agdestein
2nd Norway Chess 2014
E15
1–0
2014
E Tomashevsky vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE World Rapid 2014
E12
½–½
2014
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE World Blitz 2014
E15
½–½
2014
Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen
WCh 2014
E15
½–½
2014
Magnus Carlsen vs Grant Y Xu
Carlsen vs chess.com
E12
1–0
2015
Magnus Carlsen vs A Naiditsch
3rd GRENKE Classic TB
E11
1–0
2015
Magnus Carlsen vs A Naiditsch
3rd GRENKE Classic TB
E11
½–½
2015
SuB Hansen vs Magnus Carlsen
20th European Teams
E10
½–½
2015
Magnus Carlsen vs I Papaioannou
20th European Teams
E11
½–½
2016
P Eljanov vs Magnus Carlsen
78th Tata Steel GpA
E10
0–1
2016
Magnus Carlsen vs Pentala Harikrishna
4th Norway Chess 2016
E15
1–0
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
GCT Blitz YourNextMove
E11
½–½
2016
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Magnus Carlsen
GCT Blitz YourNextMove
E11
0–1
2016
Alexander Grischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com SF Blitz 5m+2spm 2016
E11
0–1
2016
Magnus Carlsen vs L Winants
42nd Olympiad 2016
E11
1–0
2016
Magnus Carlsen vs E Cordova
42nd Olympiad 2016
E18
1–0
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Blitz Final 5m+2spm 2016
E15
0–1
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Blitz Final 5m+2spm 2016
E17
0–1
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Blitz Final 3m+2spm 2016
E17
0–1
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Blitz Final 1m+1spm 2016
E14
1–0
2017
Dmitry Andreikin vs Magnus Carlsen
79th Tata Steel GpA
E10
½–½
2017
E Oussedik vs Magnus Carlsen
PRO League Group Stage
E15
0–1
2017
Ba Jobava vs Magnus Carlsen
PRO League KO Stage 2017
E13
0–1
2017
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
PRO League KO Stage 2017
E11
0–1
2017
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
GCT Blitz YourNextMove
E11
½–½
2017
Ding Liren vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Ding Showdown G10
E10
0–1
2017
Ding Liren vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Ding Showdown G10
E11
½–½
2017
V Dobrov vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid 2017
E10
0–1
2018
Magnus Carlsen vs H1 Olafsson
PRO League Group Stage
E10
1–0
2018
Geo Meier vs Magnus Carlsen
GRENKE Chess Classic 2018
E10
½–½
2019
Sergey Karjakin vs Magnus Carlsen
Saint Louis Rapid 2019
E11
1–0
2019
Magnus Carlsen vs B Socko
World Blitz 2019
E15
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
Chessable Masters Final 8
E10
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk
Legends of Chess Prelim
E11
0–1
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk
Legends of Chess Prelim
E11
1–0
2020
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Airthings Masters KO 2020
E10
½–½
2020
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Airthings Masters KO 2020
E10
1–0
2020
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Airthings Masters KO 2020
E10
1–0
2021
Ding Liren vs Magnus Carlsen
Opera Euro Rapid Prelim
E10
1–0
2021
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Opera Euro Rapid KO 2021
E10
½–½
2021
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Opera Euro Rapid KO 2021
E10
1–0
2021
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Opera Euro Rapid KO 2021
E10
½–½
2021
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Opera Euro Rapid KO 2021
E16
1–0
2021
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus-Alireza Bullet
E11
0–1
2021
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
DM Carlsen-Dubov 2021
E11
½–½
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Andrey Esipenko
FIDE World Cup 2021
E10
½–½
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Andrey Esipenko
FIDE World Cup 2021
E10
1–0
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Andrey Esipenko
FIDE World Cup 2021
E10
½–½
2021
B Socko vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz 2021
E10
1–0
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Vl3 Fedoseev
World Blitz 2021
E10
0–1
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Ding Liren
Charity Cup KO 2022
E10
1–0
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Quang Liem Le
Oslo Esports Cup 2022
E10
1–0
2022
S Megaranto vs Magnus Carlsen
44th Olympiad 2022
E11
0–1
2022
Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Magnus Carlsen
FTX Crypto Cup 2022
E11
1–0
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
9th Sinquefield Cup 2022
E10
1–0
2022
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
9th Sinquefield Cup 2022
E11
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs D Navara
Julius Baer GenCup Prelim
E10
½–½
2022
Nikita Meshkovs vs Magnus Carlsen
37th ECC Open 2022
E10
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Vidit Gujrathi
Aimchess Rapid Prelim
E10
1–0
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Aimchess Rapid Prelim
E10
1–0
2022
Quang Liem Le vs Magnus Carlsen
Meltwater Tour Final 2022
E11
1–0
2022
Quang Liem Le vs Magnus Carlsen
Meltwater Tour Final 2022
E11
½–½
2022
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
MrDodgy Inv 3 Finals
E11
0–1
2022
D Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com SpeedChess 2022
E11
0–1
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
chess.com SpeedChess 2022
E10
0–1
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
chess.com SpeedChess 2022
E10
1–0
2022
Vl3 Fedoseev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid 2022
E11
½–½
2022
Vladislav Artemiev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid 2022
E11
1–0
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
World Rapid 2022
E10
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Yu Yangyi
World Blitz 2022
E10
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ortik Nigmatov
Titled Tue 3rd Jan Early
E10
1–0
2023
Anish Giri vs Magnus Carlsen
85th Tata Steel Masters
E15
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexey Sarana
Airthings Masters Div 1 W
E10
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
Airthings Masters Div 1 W
E11
½–½
2023
Parham Maghsoodloo vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 28th Feb Early
E10
0–1
2023
A Rustemov vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 28th Feb Early
E12
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Jose Martinez
Titled Tue 7th Mar Late
E11
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Richard Rapport
Superbet Rapid 2023
E17
½–½
2023
D Frolyanov vs Magnus Carlsen
AimChess Rapid Play-In
E10
0–1
2023
Abhimanyu Mishra vs Magnus Carlsen
AimChess Rapid Play-In
E10
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Ediz Gurel
Titled Tue 20th Jun Early
E12
1–0
2023
Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs Magnus Carlsen
Aimchess Rapid Div 1 W
E10
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Dmitry Andreikin
Titled Tue 1st Aug Early
E16
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Vincent Keymer
FIDE World Cup 2023
E10
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
E16
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
E12
1–0
2023
Alisher Suleymenov vs Magnus Carlsen
Qatar Masters Open 2023
E12
1–0
2023
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 24th Oct Early
E16
1–0
2023
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
CCT Final Playoff 2023
E10
½–½
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Ding Liren
GRENKE Chess Classic 2024
E10
½–½
2024
Ding Liren vs Magnus Carlsen
GRENKE Chess Classic 2024
E11
½–½
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs R Praggnanandhaa
Superbet POL Blitz 2024
E11
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja
Chess.com Classic Div 1 W
E10
1–0
2024
A Korobov vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 25th Jun Early
E15
½–½
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi
Titled Tue 30th Jul Late
E12
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi
chess.com SpeedChess 2024
E10
0–1
2024
Rudik Makarian vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 10th Sep Early
E11
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Viktor Gazik
45th Olympiad 2024
E11
1–0
2024
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 17th Sep Late
E10
½–½
2024
Edgar Mamedov vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 22nd Oct Early
E15
0–1
2024
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 22nd Oct Early
E15
½–½
2024
Rudik Makarian vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 29th Oct Early
E11
0–1
2024
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 29th Oct Early
E11
½–½
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Sarin Nihal
Tata Steel India Blitz
E10
1–0
2024
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 26th Nov Early
E10
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Vl Kovalev
Titled Tue 10th Dec Early
E12
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Jose Martinez
Titled Tue 21st Jan Late
E15
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Jung Min Seo
Titled Tue 18th Mar Late
E16
1–0
2025
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 25th Mar Late
E11
1–0
2025
Rudik Makarian vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 15th Apr Early
E10
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja
Esports World Cup 2025
E10
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Dorina Demeter
Titled Tue 12th Aug Late
E12
1–0
2025
Joaquin Fiorito vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 23rd Sep 2025
E10
0–1
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Vu Rasulov
Titled Tue 23rd Sep 2025
E10
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs D Gukesh
Clutch Chess: Champions
E10
½–½
2025
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 11th Nov 2025
E10
0–1
2025
Anand Pranav vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 23rd Dec 2025
E10
0–1
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli
World Rapid 2025
E11
1–0
Questions
Magnus Carlsen and the Queen's Indian Defense: questions and answers
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Queen's Indian Defense?
Yes. Our database has 236 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Queen's Indian Defense from 2002–2025: 87 with White and 149 with Black.
What is Magnus Carlsen's record in the Queen's Indian Defense?
103 wins, 86 draws and 47 losses in 236 games, a score of 61.9%. With White 51–30–6, with Black 52–56–41 (won–drawn–lost).
Has Magnus Carlsen played the Queen's Indian Defense in classical chess?
Yes, 76 games in classical events in our database (27–38–11). The other games come from rapid, blitz and other events.
Which line of the Queen's Indian Defense does Carlsen play most?
The move order seen most often in his games is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 (56 games).
What are Magnus Carlsen's best Queen's Indian Defense games?
Good places to start are his wins against top players: Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi (9th Sinquefield Cup 2022, 2022); Magnus Carlsen vs Pentala Harikrishna (4th Norway Chess 2016, 2016); Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen (6th Tal Memorial, 2011); Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian (WCh Candidates s/f, 2007).
When did Magnus Carlsen last play the Queen's Indian Defense?
The latest game in our database is Magnus Carlsen vs Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli at the World Rapid 2025 (26 December 2025), result 1-0.
Can I replay Magnus Carlsen's Queen's Indian Defense games?
Yes. All 236 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.