Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen, Legends of Chess Prelim 2020

Grünfeld Defense (D87) · 0-1 (Magnus Carlsen won) · 19 moves · Round 4.2 · 24 July 2020

♔
White
Boris Gelfand
0 – 1
Black
Magnus Carlsen
♚
Analyse This Game Practice
Moves
0 / 38

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteBoris Gelfand
  • BlackMagnus Carlsen
  • Result0-1 · Magnus Carlsen won
  • EventLegends of Chess Prelim 2020
  • Round4.2
  • Date24 July 2020
  • OpeningGrünfeld Defense (D87)
  • Length19 moves
  • Type of eventRapid

This is game 42 of 45 between Magnus Carlsen and Boris Gelfand in the Rama Chess database (2005–2022). In all their games Carlsen leads 19–5 with 21 draws.

Previous game: Carlsen vs Gelfand, 1-0 (Legends of Chess Prelim, 2020).

Next game: Carlsen vs Gelfand, 1-0 (Legends of Chess Prelim, 2020).

Carlsen vs Gelfand: all 45 gamesAll Carlsen games at Legends of Chess PrelimCarlsen in the Grünfeld DefenseCarlsen games of 2020Boris Gelfand profile

The moves of Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen, Legends of Chess Prelim 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 e6 11.dxc5 Qa5 12.f4 Rd8 13.Qe1 Bd7 14.Bb3 Qc7 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Bb5 17.Qf2 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Qc6 19.Qf3 Bxd4 0-1

This brisk miniature sees Boris Gelfand take on Magnus Carlsen at Legends of Chess Prelim in 2020. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

The game opened with Grünfeld Defense (D87), a fight over the centre. Here the struggle often turns on the central pawns and minor-piece play.

The game was a sharp, short fight of 19 moves. Decisive games like this often hinge on a single tactical idea, making them good study material for spotting mistakes early.

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.

Games like this are useful at every level: opening principles for beginners, middlegame plans for club players, fine technique for experts.

When the dust settled, 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

What is the head-to-head record of Magnus Carlsen and Boris Gelfand?

In the 45 games between them in our database (2005 to 2022) Carlsen leads 19–5 with 21 draws. This game is number 42 of 45.

Where and when was Boris Gelfand vs Magnus Carlsen played?

At the Legends of Chess Prelim, round 4.2, on 24 July 2020.

Who played this game?

This game was played between Boris Gelfand (White) and Magnus Carlsen (Black), at Legends of Chess Prelim in 2020.

What opening was played?

The game used Grünfeld Defense (ECO code D87). A fight over the centre.

What was the result?

Magnus Carlsen won with the black pieces.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 19 moves (38 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 Grünfeld Defense collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.

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