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Opening · 71 games

Magnus Carlsen in the Scotch Game

71 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Scotch Game, 2003 to 2025: 36 wins, 26 draws, 9 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.

Quick answer · Updated October 2026

Does Magnus Carlsen play the Scotch Game?

Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Scotch Game in 71 games in our database (2003–2025): 36 wins, 26 draws and 9 losses, a score of 69.0%. He had it 38 times with White (21–13–4) and 33 times with Black (15–13–5).

Type of event	Games	Carlsen won	Drawn	Opponent won	Carlsen score
Classical	18	10	7	1	75.0%
Rapid	12	5	5	2	62.5%
Blitz and bullet	33	19	10	4	72.7%
Other events	8	2	4	2	50.0%
All games	71	36	26	9	69.0%

First game in our databaseMagnus Carlsen vs A Diamant · WYb14 · 24 October 2003 · 1-0

Latest gameNodirbek Abdusattorov vs Magnus Carlsen · Esports World Cup D 2025 · 29 July 2025 · ½-½

Classical games18: 10–7–1 (won–drawn–lost)

His most played move order1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 (21 games)

Busiest year2021, with 10 games

Replay all 71 games Magnus Carlsen profile All Magnus openings Learn the Scotch Game Practice 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 Scotch Game: the starting moves

Scotch Game chess opening position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4, board diagram — The Scotch Game starts with **1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4**.

In his own games the line he reached most often is **1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5** (21 games).

Best wins

Magnus Carlsen's Scotch Game wins against top players

Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-15th Sinquefield Cup 2017 · 6 August 2017 · Classical · 29 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Pentala Harikrishna, 1-075th Tata Steel GpA · 15 January 2013 · Classical · 49 moves
Teimour Radjabov vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-17th Mikhail Tal Memorial · 13 June 2012 · Classical · 59 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana, 1-0Biel ACCENTUS GM · 22 July 2011 · Classical · 27 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Etienne Bacrot, 1-03rd Pearl Spring · 20 October 2010 · Classical · 38 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Peter Leko, 1-02nd Pearl Spring · 28 September 2009 · Classical · 44 moves

Results by year

The Scotch Game by year (2003–2025)

Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won

Record · Updated October 2026

Magnus Carlsen's record in the Scotch Game

The Rama Chess archive holds 71 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Scotch Game, from 2003 to 2025. He won 36, drew 26 and lost 9, a score of 69.0%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).

He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 38 games as White (21 wins, 13 draws, 4 losses) and 33 games as Black (15 wins, 13 draws, 5 losses).

His most frequent opponents here are Hikaru Nakamura (6), Andrew Tang (6), Levon Aronian (3). The earliest game is from 2003 (WYb14) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 14th Jan Early). The ECO code seen most often is C45.

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	38	21	13	4	72%
Black	33	15	13	5	65%
All games	71	36	26	9	69%

Year by year

Scotch Game games by year

Year	Games	Won	Drawn	Lost	Score
2003	2	2	0	0	100%
2004	1	0	0	1	0%
2007	2	0	2	0	50%
2008	1	0	1	0	50%
2009	5	4	0	1	80%
2010	4	2	2	0	75%
2011	3	1	2	0	67%
2012	2	1	0	1	50%
2013	2	2	0	0	100%
2014	6	2	4	0	67%
2015	1	0	1	0	50%
2016	2	1	1	0	75%
2017	6	2	3	1	58%
2018	1	1	0	0	100%
2019	3	0	2	1	33%
2020	3	1	1	1	50%
2021	10	6	2	2	70%
2022	7	4	2	1	71%
2023	3	2	1	0	83%
2024	1	1	0	0	100%
2025	6	4	2	0	83%

Opponents

Who he played most in the Scotch Game

Hikaru Nakamura · 6 Andrew Tang · 6 Levon Aronian · 3 Ian Nepomniachtchi · 3 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave · 3 Wesley So · 3 Alireza Firouzja · 3A Naiditsch · 2

All 71 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Scotch Game

Year

Game

ECO

Result