Magnus Carlsen on how many moves he can visualise in advance during games: 'Most of the time I see...'

World No. 1-ranked player Magnus Carlsen has opened up about one of the biggest myths in chess. He recently shared his view on how far ahead elite players can actually calculate during a game.

Speaking to TakeTakeTake, Carlsen said that many people wrongly believe that chess players think many moves ahead. According to him, that is not true in most situations and players just visualise two or three moves ahead.

“One common misconception is that chess players think very, very far ahead, which we don't. You can sometimes think very far ahead if there are very few options, but I mean, I've gotten that question so many times, like, how many moves do you see ahead? Most of the time I see like two or three moves. But the truth is, you get to a certain point and then you have to reevaluate because conditions might have changed in some way,” Carlsen said.

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Carlsen continues to dominate world chess

Carlsen’s comments have come shortly after he won the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship, claiming his record 21st world title. He defeated American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in the final that was held in Weissenhaus in Germany last month.

A draw in the fourth and final game was enough for Carlsen to seal a 2.5-1.5 victory in the match. The turning point came in game three, where Carlsen managed to win from what many believed was a completely lost position. That dramatic comeback shifted the momentum in his favour and a draw ensured his victory.

Carlsen is also a five-time world champion in the Classical format. He could have won even more titles if he had chosen to defend his Classical crown in 2023, but he has since voluntarily stepped down from it. India's D Gukesh is the reigning world champion and the winner of 2026 Candidates will challenge him for the title.

Carlsen, on the other hand, will next be seen at the 2026 Norway Chess, his home tournament, where he will look to defend his title. Carlsen won last year for the seventh time in the tournament. Other top players to take part in the event are Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Vincent Keymar, Alireza Firouzja, and Wesley So.