How to beat Magnus Carlsen

This How to beat Magnus Carlsen is an English-language paperback chess book that turns Magnus Carlsen’s losses, draws and difficult moments into practical training material. Rather than treating his defeats as curiosities, it shows what they reveal about decision-making under pressure at the very highest level.

What this book covers

Magnus Carlsen is often regarded as the strongest player of his era, so every defeat draws attention. Cyrus Lakdawala uses those games to explain not just what happened, but why problems arose in the first place. The result is a study of moments when even a world champion can be outplayed strategically, press too hard in an equal position, choose the wrong plan or slip into a tactical mistake.

The book also begins with Carlsen’s wins and draws, which helps show just how difficult it is to beat him at all. That context makes his strengths easier to appreciate: exceptional concentration, precise calculation, strong endgame technique, a wide and creative opening repertoire, and a willingness to complicate the position in almost every phase of the game.

Why it stands out

The thematic structure makes it easier to follow recurring patterns and draw practical lessons for your own play. Lakdawala’s style is accessible, so the book reads as a teaching resource rather than a dry tournament commentary. It is designed to help readers understand the decisions made over the board and recognise the moments when even the best player can lose control of the position.

It also includes the game that ended the longest unbeaten run in classical chess history. That streak lasted more than two years and covered 125 games, before Jan-Krzysztof Duda defeated Magnus Carlsen at the Altibox tournament in Stavanger on 10 October 2020.

This is a strong choice for readers interested in modern chess, master-game analysis and practical learning through concrete examples. It also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone following Carlsen’s career or contemporary tournament chess.

Edition details

• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• Author: Cyrus Lakdawala
• Subject: Analysis of Magnus Carlsen’s games and defeats
• Format: Thematic chess study book
• Page count: 304