Hikaru Nakamura, a world-class chess grandmaster, is known for his creative and versatile opening repertoire. While he plays a wide variety of openings, here are some of his favorites and frequently used ones:
As White:
1. Ruy-Lopez (Spanish Opening) - Nakamura often begins with 1. e4, and this classical opening is a favorite for its rich strategic possibilities.
2. King's Indian Attack (KIA) - A flexible setup Nakamura uses to avoid heavy opening theory while ensuring a solid yet aggressive position.
3. London System - Occasionally, Nakamura employs this opening to surprise opponents and simplify the position into manageable plans.
4. Catalan Opening - He uses this for a positional and strategic game, especially in slower-paced tournaments.
As Black:
1. King's Indian Defense (KID) - Nakamura loves this dynamic defense against 1. d4, allowing him to go for a counter-attacking setup.
2. Nimzo-Indian Defense - This classical response to 1. d4 is another favorite for its flexibility and dynamic opportunities.