Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky, Tal Memorial Blitz 2008

Slav Defense (D15) · ½-½ (Draw) · 94 moves · Round 21 · 30 August 2008

♔
White
Magnus Carlsen
½ – ½
Black
Gata Kamsky
♚
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Moves
0 / 188

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteMagnus Carlsen
  • BlackGata Kamsky
  • Result½-½ · Draw
  • EventTal Memorial Blitz 2008
  • Round21
  • Date30 August 2008
  • OpeningSlav Defense (D15)
  • Length94 moves
  • Type of eventBlitz and bullet

This is game 13 of 26 between Magnus Carlsen and Gata Kamsky in the Rama Chess database (2005–2024). In all their games Carlsen leads 11–7 with 8 draws.

Previous game: Kamsky vs Carlsen, 0-1 (Tal Memorial Blitz, 2008).

Next game: Carlsen vs Kamsky, ½-½ (Corus A, 2009).

Carlsen vs Kamsky: all 26 gamesAll Carlsen games at Tal Memorial BlitzCarlsen in the Slav DefenseCarlsen games of 2008

The moves of Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky, Tal Memorial Blitz 2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.a4 e6 6.Bf4 a5 7.e3 Na6 8.Be2 Be7 9.O-O Nb4 10.Qb3 O-O 11.Na2 Na6 12.h3 Ne4 13.Rac1 f5 14.Nc3 Nd6 15.Ne5 Nb4 16.Rfd1 Bd7 17.Na2 Nxa2 18.Qxa2 Be8 19.Qb3 Ra7 20.f3 Kh8 21.Kh1 Bf6 22.Qc3 Nf7 23.Nd3 g5 24.Bh2 Bg7 25.Nc5 Qe7 26.Qb3 Nd8 27.e4 f4 28.cxd5 exd5 29.Bf1 Bf7 30.Qb6 Ra8 31.Bg1 h5 32.Re1 Qd6 33.Bd3 g4 34.e5 Qe7 35.e6 Bxe6 36.Re2 gxf3 37.gxf3 Qh4 38.Rh2 Bf5 39.Bf2 Qe7 40.Bxf5 Rxf5 41.Re1 Qf7 42.Rg2 Bf8 43.Reg1 Bxc5 44.Qxc5 Ne6 45.Qd6 Rd8 46.Qa3 Kh7 47.Qd3 Kh6 48.Bh4 Rf8 49.Qe2 Nxd4 50.Qd3 c5 51.Bg5+ Kh7 52.Bxf4 Ne6 53.Be5 d4 54.f4 b6 55.Qe4 Kh6 56.Qc6 Kh7 57.Rg6 Re8 58.R6g2 d3 59.Qe4 c4 60.b3 d2 61.Rxd2 Nc5 62.Rg7+ Qxg7 63.Qxf5+ Qg6 64.Qxg6+ Kxg6 65.bxc4 Nxa4 66.Rd6+ Kf5 67.Kg2 Re6 68.Rd5 Ke4 69.Rd4+ Ke3 70.Rd5 Ke4 71.Rd4+ Kf5 72.Kf3 Rc6 73.Bd6 Nc5 74.Rd5+ Kg6 75.Bxc5 bxc5 76.Rg5+ Kh6 77.Rg2 a4 78.Ra2 Ra6 79.Ke4 Kg6 80.Kd5 Kf5 81.Kxc5 Kxf4 82.Kb5 Ra8 83.Rxa4 Rb8+ 84.Kc6 h4 85.c5+ Kg3 86.Ra3+ Kg2 87.Kc7 Rg8 88.c6 Rg3 89.Rxg3+ hxg3 90.Kb7 Kh2 91.c7 g2 92.c8=Q g1=Q 93.h4 Qb1+ 94.Kc7 Qh7+ 1/2-1/2

This marathon sees Magnus Carlsen take on Gata Kamsky at Tal Memorial Blitz in 2008. It was played in round 21. The game dates from the modern computer-influenced era.

From Slav Defense (D15) the players entered a fight over the centre. Here the struggle often turns on the central pawns and minor-piece play.

At 94 moves this was a long, demanding struggle that rewarded stamina and precise endgame technique.

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.

Replaying a complete grandmaster game shows not just the moves, but the order in which plans appear and where the balance finally tips.

In the end, the game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and Gata Kamsky. 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 Gata Kamsky?

In the 26 games between them in our database (2005 to 2024) Carlsen leads 11–7 with 8 draws. This game is number 13 of 26.

Where and when was Magnus Carlsen vs Gata Kamsky played?

At the Tal Memorial Blitz, round 21, on 30 August 2008.

Who played this game?

This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and Gata Kamsky (Black), at Tal Memorial Blitz in 2008.

What opening was played?

The game used Slav Defense (ECO code D15). A fight over the centre.

What was the result?

The game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and Gata Kamsky.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 94 moves (188 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 Slav Defense collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.

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