Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, Carlsen Inv Final 4 2020

English Opening (A29) · 1-0 (Magnus Carlsen won) · 84 moves · Round 2.1 · 3 May 2020

♔
White
Magnus Carlsen
1 – 0
Black
Hikaru Nakamura
♚
Analyse This Game Practice
Moves
0 / 167

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteMagnus Carlsen
  • BlackHikaru Nakamura
  • Result1-0 · Magnus Carlsen won
  • EventCarlsen Inv Final 4 2020
  • Round2.1
  • Date3 May 2020
  • OpeningEnglish Opening (A29)
  • Length84 moves
  • Type of eventRapid

This is game 135 of 408 between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in the Rama Chess database (2005–2025). In all their games Carlsen leads 144–82 with 182 draws.

Previous game: Nakamura vs Carlsen, 1-0 (Carlsen Inv Prelim, 2020).

Next game: Nakamura vs Carlsen, ½-½ (Carlsen Inv Final 4, 2020).

Carlsen vs Nakamura: all 408 gamesCarlsen in the English OpeningCarlsen games of 2020Hikaru Nakamura profile

The moves of Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, Carlsen Inv Final 4 2020

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Be7 8.d3 O-O 9.Be3 Be6 10.Rc1 Nd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.a3 Re8 13.Qc2 Bf6 14.Nd2 Nd4 15.Bxd4 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 exd4 17.Qxc7 Rxe2 18.Qxd8+ Rxd8 19.Nc4 Rde8 20.Kf3 Bg5 21.Rb1 R2e6 22.a4 h5 23.b4 g6 24.b5 Kg7 25.Rb2 Be7 26.Rc1 g5 27.Kg2 g4 28.Rcc2 Bg5 29.b6 axb6 30.Rb5 Kg6 31.f4 gxf3+ 32.Kxf3 Bd8 33.Rd5 Bf6 34.Rb2 Ra8 35.Rxb6 Rxa4 36.Rxe6 fxe6 37.Rb5 Ra1 38.Rxb7 Rf1+ 39.Ke2 Rh1 40.h4 Rg1 41.Kf2 Rd1 42.Rb3 Ra1 43.Nd6 Be5 44.Ne4 Ra5 45.Kf3 Kf5 46.Nd2 Bf6 47.Nc4 Ra1 48.Nd6+ Kg6 49.Ne4 Re1 50.Kf2 Re3 51.Nd2 Re5 52.Ne4 Rf5+ 53.Ke2 Ra5 54.Rb6 Kf5 55.Kf3 Be5 56.Rb3 Ra1 57.Rb5 Re1 58.Nd6+ Kg6 59.Nc4 Bf6 60.Rb6 Kf5 61.Kf2 Rd1 62.Nd6+ Kg4 63.Ne4 Be5 64.Rxe6 Kf5 65.Ke2 Rg1 66.Rh6 Bxg3 67.Rxh5+ Kf4 68.Rh8 Re1+ 69.Kd2 Re3 70.h5 Be1+ 71.Kc2 Rh3 72.h6 Kf5 73.h7 Kg6 74.Rg8+ Kxh7 75.Nf6+ Kh6 76.Rh8+ Kg6 77.Rxh3 Kxf6 78.Kb3 Ke5 79.Kc4 Bf2 80.Rf3 Be3 81.Rf8 Ke6 82.Kc5 Bg1 83.Kc6 Be3 84.Re8+ 1-0

In this encounter Magnus Carlsen had the white pieces against Hikaru Nakamura at Carlsen Inv Final 4 in 2020. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

The game opened with English Opening (A29), a flexible, manoeuvring struggle. Openings in this group reward patient build-up and a feel for pawn structure.

At 84 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.

Working through a full game like this trains pattern recognition — the more you study, the faster you spot familiar ideas in your own play.

In the end, Magnus Carlsen won with the white 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 Hikaru Nakamura?

In the 408 games between them in our database (2005 to 2025) Carlsen leads 144–82 with 182 draws. This game is number 135 of 408.

Where and when was Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura played?

At the Carlsen Inv Final 4, round 2.1, on 3 May 2020.

Who played this game?

This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and Hikaru Nakamura (Black), at Carlsen Inv Final 4 in 2020.

What opening was played?

The game used English Opening (ECO code A29). A flexible, manoeuvring struggle.

What was the result?

Magnus Carlsen won with the white pieces.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 84 moves (167 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 English Opening collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.

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