Magnus Collection › Openings › Slav Defense
Opening · 197 games
Magnus Carlsen in the Slav Defense
197 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Slav Defense, 2001 to 2025: 101 wins, 68 draws, 28 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.
Quick answer · Updated October 2026
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Slav Defense?
Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Slav Defense in 197 games in our database (2001–2025): 101 wins, 68 draws and 28 losses, a score of 68.5%. He had it 106 times with White (63–30–13) and 91 times with Black (38–38–15).
| Type of event | Games | Carlsen won | Drawn | Opponent won | Carlsen score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 66 | 27 | 31 | 8 | 64.4% |
| Rapid | 43 | 18 | 20 | 5 | 65.1% |
| Blitz and bullet | 66 | 46 | 10 | 10 | 77.3% |
| Armageddon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Other events | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 59.5% |
| All games | 197 | 101 | 68 | 28 | 68.5% |
First game in our databaseR Edvardsen vs Magnus Carlsen · Troll Masters · 5 January 2001 · ½-½
Latest gameYovann Gatineau vs Magnus Carlsen · Titled Tue 26th Aug Late · 26 August 2025 · 1-0
Classical games66: 27–31–8 (won–drawn–lost)
His most played move order1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 (26 games)
Busiest year2009, with 17 games
Replay all 197 gamesMagnus Carlsen profileAll Magnus openingsLearn the Slav 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 Slav Defense: the starting moves
In his own games the line he reached most often is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 (26 games).
Best wins
Magnus Carlsen's Slav Defense wins against top players
- Magnus Carlsen vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda, 1-08th Norway Chess 2020 · 11 October 2020 · Classical · 26 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, 1-0Vugar Gashimov Mem 2015 · 18 April 2015 · Classical · 29 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, 1-07th London Classic 2015 · 11 December 2015 · Classical · 78 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, 1-0Vugar Gashimov Mem 2014 · 21 April 2014 · Classical · 61 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, 1-02nd Sinquefield Cup 2014 · 3 September 2014 · Classical · 52 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky, 1-0Sinquefield Cup 2013 · 9 September 2013 · Classical · 49 moves
Results by year
The Slav Defense by year (2001–2025)
Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won
Record · Updated October 2026
Magnus Carlsen's record in the Slav Defense
The Rama Chess archive holds 197 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Slav Defense, from 2001 to 2025. He won 101, drew 68 and lost 28, a score of 68.5%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).
He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 106 games as White (63 wins, 30 draws, 13 losses) and 91 games as Black (38 wins, 38 draws, 15 losses).
His most frequent opponents here are Hikaru Nakamura (20), Gata Kamsky (6), Boris Gelfand (6). The earliest game is from 2001 (Troll Masters) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 21st Jan Late). The ECO code seen most often is D11.
By colour
With White and with Black
| Carlsen played | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 106 | 63 | 30 | 13 | 74% |
| Black | 91 | 38 | 38 | 15 | 63% |
| All games | 197 | 101 | 68 | 28 | 69% |
Year by year
Slav Defense games by year
| Year | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| 2002 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 57% |
| 2003 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 62% |
| 2004 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 65% |
| 2005 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 61% |
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 2007 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 50% |
| 2008 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 68% |
| 2009 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 62% |
| 2010 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 75% |
| 2011 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 90% |
| 2012 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 83% |
| 2013 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 83% |
| 2014 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 69% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 83% |
| 2016 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 73% |
| 2017 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 50% |
| 2018 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 67% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
| 2020 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 75% |
| 2021 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 71% |
| 2022 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 68% |
| 2023 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 71% |
| 2024 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 82% |
| 2025 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 79% |
Opponents
Who he played most in the Slav Defense
All 197 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Slav Defense
Year
Game
ECO
Result
2001
R Edvardsen vs Magnus Carlsen
Troll Masters
D12
½–½
2001
Magnus Carlsen vs T Plachkinova
Nordic Championships
D16
0–1
2002
Magnus Carlsen vs P Johansson
Troll Masters
D11
1–0
2002
Magnus Carlsen vs A Payen
IV Shakkinet A
D15
0–1
2002
Mi Maki Uuro vs Magnus Carlsen
IV Shakkinet A
D10
1–0
2002
Vi Hansen vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR
D13
½–½
2002
H Lahlum vs Magnus Carlsen
Open
D10
½–½
2002
Vi Hansen vs Magnus Carlsen
15th Open
D12
0–1
2002
D Berczes vs Magnus Carlsen
WYb12
D17
0–1
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs A Stefanova
11th Aosta Open
D13
½–½
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs Z Andriasian
EYb14
D17
0–1
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs Z Andriasian
WYb14
D17
1–0
2003
Magnus Carlsen vs L Drabke
FSGM December
D17
1–0
2004
M Gagunashvili vs Magnus Carlsen
GMC
D15
0–1
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs A Beliavsky
12th Sigeman & Co
D17
½–½
2004
Pentala Harikrishna vs Magnus Carlsen
6th Open
D10
½–½
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs PH Nielsen
12th Sigeman & Co
D17
1–0
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs E Agrest
12th Sigeman & Co
D15
1–0
2004
LE Johannessen vs Magnus Carlsen
ch-NOR
D15
0–1
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs LE Johannessen
GM Classic
D17
½–½
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs I Sokolov
Essent Crown
D17
½–½
2004
Magnus Carlsen vs K Kulaots
36th Olympiad
D17
½–½
2004
PH Nielsen vs Magnus Carlsen
Smartfish Masters
D17
1–0
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs A Stefanova
Corus B
D15
½–½
2005
Ba Jobava vs Magnus Carlsen
6th EICC
D17
1–0
2005
El Guseinov vs Magnus Carlsen
6th EICC
D13
0–1
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs O Hole
ch-NOR
D12
1–0
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
GM
D17
½–½
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs O Hole
Bygger'n Masters
D10
1–0
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs V Burmakin
Bygger'n Masters
D15
1–0
2005
Magnus Carlsen vs V Malakhov
WCC Places 9-12
D15
½–½
2005
Gata Kamsky vs Magnus Carlsen
WCC Places 9-10
D14
1–0
2006
P Tregubov vs Magnus Carlsen
XXII Open
D12
½–½
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs J Gunnarsson
Glitnir Blitz Prelim
D16
1–0
2006
Magnus Carlsen vs Boris Gelfand
Tal Memorial
D17
0–1
2007
R Ponomariov vs Magnus Carlsen
Corus A
D10
1–0
2007
Peter Leko vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Rapid
D12
½–½
2007
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Magnus Carlsen
Amber Blindfold
D12
½–½
2007
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
WCh Candidates s/f
D17
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Boris Gelfand
Sparkassen GM
D11
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand
Sparkassen GM
D12
½–½
2007
Bu Xiangzhi vs Magnus Carlsen
Blindfold World Cup
D12
½–½
2007
Magnus Carlsen vs R Ponomariov
World Blitz
D10
1–0
2008
Alexander Grischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE GP
D17
½–½
2008
Peter Leko vs Magnus Carlsen
Rapid Match
D12
0–1
2008
Al Onischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
41st Festival GM
D19
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Grischuk
Tal Memorial Blitz
D16
0–1
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs S Movsesian
Tal Memorial Blitz
D15
1–0
2008
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
Tal Memorial Blitz
D17
0–1
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky
Tal Memorial Blitz
D15
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Vladimir Kramnik
Tal Memorial Blitz
D17
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand
Grand Slam Final
D13
½–½
2008
Magnus Carlsen vs Bu Xiangzhi
Trophee CCAS KO
D19
1–0
2008
J Rowson vs Magnus Carlsen
38th Olympiad
D11
0–1
2009
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
Aker CC Blitz
D15
0–1
2009
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
Aker CC Rapid
D14
½–½
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs S Movsesian
Corus A
D11
½–½
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin
Corus A
D11
½–½
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky
Corus A
D15
½–½
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Wang Yue
XXVI SuperGM
D10
0–1
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky
18th Amber Blindfold
D15
1–0
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Wang Yue
18th Amber Rapid
D16
1–0
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk
5th MTel Masters
D11
½–½
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Wang Yue
5th MTel Masters
D15
1–0
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Wang Yue
XXII Rapid KO
D17
½–½
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Wang Yue
2nd Pearl Spring
D17
1–0
2009
E Bareev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz
D11
0–1
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian
World Blitz
D13
0–1
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk
World Blitz
D07
0–1
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin
World Blitz
D15
1–0
2009
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
Chess Classic
D17
½–½
2010
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk
Corus A
D10
1–0
2010
Magnus Carlsen vs V Gashimov
19th Amber Rapid
D15
½–½
2010
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana
VI World Blitz
D18
1–0
2010
Vladimir Kramnik vs Magnus Carlsen
2nd London Chess Classic
D07
½–½
2011
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
20th Amber Rapid
D10
1–0
2011
Magnus Carlsen vs V Gashimov
20th Amber Blindfold
D11
1–0
2011
Magnus Carlsen vs F Vallejo Pons
4th Final Masters
D12
1–0
2011
Magnus Carlsen vs Boris Gelfand
6th Tal Memorial
D12
1–0
2011
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
3rd London Chess Classic
D12
½–½
2012
Magnus Carlsen vs Boris Gelfand
74th Tata Steel GMA
D12
1–0
2012
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
74th Tata Steel GMA
D15
½–½
2012
Magnus Carlsen vs V Bologan
World Rapid Final
D12
1–0
2012
V Tkachiev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid Final
D12
0–1
2012
Veselin Topalov vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid Final
D15
½–½
2012
Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz Final
D15
0–1
2013
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin
8th Tal Mem Blitz
D11
1–0
2013
Magnus Carlsen vs B Predojevic
Rapid Match
D10
½–½
2013
Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky
Sinquefield Cup 2013
D15
1–0
2014
R Leitao vs Magnus Carlsen
Four Player Festa da Uva 2014
D11
0–1
2014
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
Vugar Gashimov Mem 2014
D12
1–0
2014
Magnus Carlsen vs L Fressinet
FIDE World Rapid 2014
D11
½–½
2014
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand
FIDE World Rapid 2014
D10
0–1
2014
Vl3 Fedoseev vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE World Blitz 2014
D11
0–1
2014
T Nyback vs Magnus Carlsen
41st Olympiad Open 2014
D11
½–½
2014
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
41st Olympiad Open 2014
D16
½–½
2014
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
2nd Sinquefield Cup 2014
D10
1–0
2015
Magnus Carlsen vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Vugar Gashimov Mem 2015
D11
1–0
2015
Magnus Carlsen vs Daniil Dubov
World Rapid 2015
D10
½–½
2015
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
7th London Classic 2015
D11
1–0
2016
Li Chao2 vs Magnus Carlsen
4th Norway Chess 2016
D14
½–½
2016
Magnus Carlsen vs Wesley So
GCT Blitz YourNextMove
D11
1–0
2016
C Lupulescu vs Magnus Carlsen
42nd Olympiad 2016
D11
½–½
2016
Magnus Carlsen vs Ivet Sala Samarra
Play Live Challenge 2016
D06
1–0
2016
Sergey Karjakin vs Magnus Carlsen
WCh 2016
D10
½–½
2016
Vassily Ivanchuk vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid 2016
D11
1–0
2016
Alexander Grischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid 2016
D16
0–1
2016
F Vallejo Pons vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz 2016
D10
0–1
2016
A Riazantsev vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz 2016
D10
0–1
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz 2016
D11
½–½
2016
Teimour Radjabov vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz 2016
D16
0–1
2017
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
79th Tata Steel GpA
D12
½–½
2017
Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen
79th Tata Steel GpA
D10
½–½
2017
Ab Gupta vs Magnus Carlsen
PRO League KO Stage 2017
D15
½–½
2017
Alexander Grischuk vs Magnus Carlsen
GCT Rapid Paris 2017
D10
½–½
2017
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
GCT Rapid Paris 2017
D11
½–½
2017
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
GCT Blitz Paris 2017
D11
1–0
2017
Ding Liren vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Ding Showdown G30
D11
½–½
2017
H Melkumyan vs Magnus Carlsen
World Blitz 2017
D13
0–1
2018
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Speed 5m+2spm 2017
D11
0–1
2018
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Speed 1m+1spm 2017
D15
0–1
2018
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
6th Norway Chess 2018
D10
1–0
2019
Magnus Carlsen vs Yu Yangyi
7th Norway Chess 2019
D15
1–0
2019
Magnus Carlsen vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Saint Louis Rapid 2019
D06
½–½
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Rauf Mamedov
Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup
D15
0–1
2020
I Cheparinov vs Magnus Carlsen
Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup
D15
½–½
2020
N Grandelius vs Magnus Carlsen
Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup
D11
0–1
2020
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen Inv Prelim
D11
½–½
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Carlsen Inv Prelim
D10
1–0
2020
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE Steinitz Mem Open
D11
½–½
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda
8th Norway Chess 2020
D10
1–0
2020
Parham Maghsoodloo vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Speed 2020
D12
0–1
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Skilling Open Prelim
D11
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Vladislav Artemiev
chess.com Speed 2020
D11
1–0
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Vladislav Artemiev
chess.com Speed 2020
D11
½–½
2020
Magnus Carlsen vs Vladislav Artemiev
chess.com Speed 2020
D12
1–0
2021
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus-Alireza Bullet
D06
1–0
2021
Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021
D12
0–1
2021
Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021
D08
0–1
2021
Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021
D12
½–½
2021
Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021
D12
0–1
2021
Andrew Tang vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021
D12
1–0
2021
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen Inv Prelim
D10
½–½
2021
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
NIC Classic Prelim 2021
D12
0–1
2021
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
NIC Classic KO 2021
D11
0–1
2021
Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso vs Magnus Carlsen
Katara Bullet Final 2021
D11
0–1
2021
Arjun Erigaisi vs Magnus Carlsen
Goldmoney Asian Prelim
D11
½–½
2021
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
San Fermin Masters Final
D11
0–1
2022
Y Kuzubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Solidarity NOR-UKR Match
D10
1–0
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Abhimanyu Mishra
Chessable Masters Prelim
D11
1–0
2022
Ding Liren vs Magnus Carlsen
Chessable Masters KO 2022
D11
1–0
2022
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
SuperUnited Rapid 2022
D10
½–½
2022
Quang Liem Le vs Magnus Carlsen
FTX Crypto Cup 2022
D11
0–1
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Iv Saric
Julius Baer GenCup Prelim
D12
1–0
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Etienne Bacrot
Titled Tue 27th Sep Early
D12
1–0
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Pentala Harikrishna
Aimchess Rapid Prelim
D11
½–½
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Arjun Erigaisi
Meltwater Tour Final 2022
D10
½–½
2022
AR Salem vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 29th Nov Late
D15
0–1
2022
Magnus Carlsen vs Kirill Shevchenko
MrDodgy Inv 3 Finals
D18
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs R Vasquez Schroeder
Titled Tue 21st Mar Late
D11
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs M Matlakov
Titled Tue 21st Mar Late
D11
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Vladislav Artemiev
Chessable Masters Div 1 W
D16
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Anish Giri
Superbet Blitz 2023
D14
½–½
2023
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen
11th Norway Blitz 2023
D10
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja
SuperUnited Blitz 2023
D13
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Eric Hansen
Bullet Chess Winners 2023
D06
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Eric Hansen
Bullet Chess Winners 2023
D06
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky
Titled Tue 1st Aug Early
D11
1–0
2023
Vidit Gujrathi vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
D11
½–½
2023
Vidit Gujrathi vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
D11
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs L R Srihari
Qatar Masters Open 2023
D11
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
CCT Final Playoff 2023
D06
½–½
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs A Reprintsev
Titled Tue 12th Dec Late
D08
1–0
2023
K Ambartsumova vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 12th Dec Late
D06
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja
CCT Final Playoff 2023
D10
1–0
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs C Holt
World Blitz 2023
D10
1–0
2024
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
Chessable Masters Div 1 W
D11
0–1
2024
Paris Prestia vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 23rd Apr Late
D08
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Drygalov
Titled Tue 14th May Late
D10
1–0
2024
Levente Miszler vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 21st May Late
D08
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs E Egorov
Titled Tue 2nd Jul Late
D07
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Le Tuan Minh
chess.com SpeedChess 2024
D10
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Le Tuan Minh
chess.com SpeedChess 2024
D11
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Richard Rapport
FIDE World Bl Team Final
D11
1–0
2024
Michael Kotyk vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 10th Sep Early
D08
0–1
2024
Casper Liu vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 17th Sep Late
D06
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Ivan Schitco
45th Olympiad 2024
D12
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Le Tuan Minh
Julius Baer Gen Cup P/I m D1
D15
1–0
2024
Daniil Dubov vs Magnus Carlsen
Tata Steel India Blitz
D14
½–½
2024
Denis Lazavik vs Magnus Carlsen
World Rapid 2024
D10
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Matfey Rogov
Titled Tue 21st Jan Late
D07
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Thomas Beerdsen
Titled Tue 21st Jan Early
D07
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
Chess.com Classic Winners
D06
½–½
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
Chess.com Classic Winners
D06
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
13th Norway Armageddon
D15
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura
Esports World Cup 2025
D06
1–0
2025
Yovann Gatineau vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 26th Aug Late
D08
1–0
Questions
Magnus Carlsen and the Slav Defense: questions and answers
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Slav Defense?
Yes. Our database has 197 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Slav Defense from 2001–2025: 106 with White and 91 with Black.
What is Magnus Carlsen's record in the Slav Defense?
101 wins, 68 draws and 28 losses in 197 games, a score of 68.5%. With White 63–30–13, with Black 38–38–15 (won–drawn–lost).
Has Magnus Carlsen played the Slav Defense in classical chess?
Yes, 66 games in classical events in our database (27–31–8). The other games come from rapid, blitz and other events.
Which line of the Slav Defense does Carlsen play most?
The move order seen most often in his games is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 (26 games).
What are Magnus Carlsen's best Slav Defense games?
Good places to start are his wins against top players: Magnus Carlsen vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda (8th Norway Chess 2020, 2020); Magnus Carlsen vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Vugar Gashimov Mem 2015, 2015); Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura (7th London Classic 2015, 2015); Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura (Vugar Gashimov Mem 2014, 2014).
When did Magnus Carlsen last play the Slav Defense?
The latest game in our database is Yovann Gatineau vs Magnus Carlsen at the Titled Tue 26th Aug Late (26 August 2025), result 1-0.
Can I replay Magnus Carlsen's Slav Defense games?
Yes. All 197 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.