How to Play like Magnus
Many chess players dream of being a grandmaster, and even call themselves a future gm, but less than 1% actually reach the top players. But at the peak of all chess players is Magnus Carlsen, king of the game. If you didn't know, "Magnus" is Latin for "the great," so we're going to look at how one of us could come close to his level.
1. Play Universally
As a youth, Carlsen was a very aggressive player. He would sacrifice a lot of material for an initiative, even if the odds were against him.
You can see mischief in his eyes.
As he faced harder opponents, however, he learned to be more positional, as well as more patient. Thus, he became a universal chess player, meaning that he plays all scenarios the same. Some call his new playing style "dull," but it nevertheless worked.
Therefore, we should go into each game with a positional mindset. If you see a weakness for your opponent, use it, but usually focus on playing safe, at least in serious games.
2. Accumulate Wide Chess Knowledge
As I said before, Carlsen has become a universal chess player, but to be that way, he learned everything in chess. From positional pushes to tactical traps, he's put in many hours to study it.
This is an issue for many players who focus completely on tactics and endgames. Sure, they can win the game, but there are many other factors that matter too. You should try to study...
- Tactical Combinations/Patterns
- Theoretical Endgames
- Concepts of Practical Endgames
- Imbalances (Space, development, etc.)
- Pawn Structures
- Initiative
- And more!
Chess may be 99% tactics, but that 1% is important too. Can you find the right plan in this small positional puzzle?
3. Play until the End
Carlsen is well-known for his endgames. If there are imbalances against him, he can usually turn them around in the endgame. This may have been his reason for not giving up easily. If he is in a very bad position, he will still try to escape the opponent's grasp. Below, Carlsen was losing by a knight, but managed to win the material back:
Even if you're not the best at endgames, don't lose hope at the first mistake. Although it might be a bit painful to play the rest of the game, comebacks do exist, and you have nothing to lose.
4. Play Simple yet Effective Chess
As I said before, Magnus Carlsen's playing style has been classified as "dull." He plays safely but pounces on any mistake the opponent makes! In the below position from one of @Gserper's blogs, Carlsen has been trying to make progress for the last the 20 moves but can't because of his opponent's active rook. There is no way for him to force the trade, but his opponent helps him!
Even still, the game is drawn. There was no way to take down one of the opponent's pawns... until his opponent created a target for him.
When you don't know how to win, let your opponent lose. If a grandmaster can make such mistakes, then your opponent probably can too.
When you don't know what to do, wait for your opponent to get an idea—it's sure to be wrong! - Siegbert Tarrasch
5. Piling on the Pressure
Playing against the world champion is obviously difficult. However, Magnus Carlsen in particular is an expert at pressurizing his opponent to make a mistake using threats, outposts, and precise play.
It is very easy for your opponent to make a mistake in a dangerous position. Therefore, pressurizing the opponent with threats and active pieces allows for many opportunities for them to choke and mess up. Then, the game is yours.
6. Choose Openings Wisely
Carlsen has a wide array of openings, as any grandmaster ought to have. But he does not switch it up just for the sake of variety; he picks the opening based on his opponent. For example, at the Wijk aan Zee 2020, Carlsen chose a quiet, positional opening against Firouzja, who is known for his sharp tactics.
Magnus Carlsen's openings
We may not be likely to face the same opponents again, but nevertheless choose the opening based on the circumstances. For example, during an online blitz game you may want to play an opening system where you know exactly what to play next, and at a serious OTB tournament you want to play the opening that you have the highest win rate with.
7. Train Consistently
As you might expect, Carlsen spend much of his day preparing and training his chess skills. He hangs out with his elite GM buddies and analyzes complex positions. He never forgets or procrastinates his studies. Carlsen does take breaks, but not very often.
Carlsen analyzing with Vladmir Kramnik and Ilya Levitov, CEO of the Russian Chess Federation
While we may not be able to commit 8 hours a day to chess, studying consistently is key to improvement. Whether you study for 2 hours or for 30 minutes, try to stay on that schedule. Plan out the days you spend and do not spend on chess. This helps your brain learn better and more efficiently.
Thanks for reading the blog! To me, Magnus Carlsen really is really the "greatest" chess player of all time. Do you think the same?
