Aravindh Chithambaram’s opening repertoire is exactly what you’d expect from a creative, fighting grandmaster: combative as Black, and delightfully unorthodox as White. He’s a player who cares far more about reaching positions he understands than about winning the memorization arms race — so his choices are designed to sidestep heavy theory and turn every game into a genuine contest of ideas. Here’s the tour.
As Black: the Sicilian Defense
Aravindh’s calling card with the black pieces is the Sicilian Defense — the most combative reply to 1.e4 in all of chess. Where a solid drawing weapon aims only to neutralize White, the Sicilian fights for the full point from move one by creating an unbalanced pawn structure. That suits Aravindh perfectly: he wants winning chances, and he trusts his calculation in the resulting complications.
The position above is the great Open Sicilian junction, and it’s the kind of double-edged battleground where his instincts thrive. From here Black can branch into razor-sharp lines full of mutual attacking chances — precisely the mess Aravindh backs himself to navigate. When he needs a win with Black, this is home.
As White: the King’s Indian Attack
Here’s where Aravindh gets interesting. Rather than always slugging it out in the most fashionable 1.e4 or 1.d4 main lines, he frequently reaches for the King’s Indian Attack — a universal, low-theory system where White builds a flexible setup (Nf3, g3, Bg2, d3, and a later e4 push) and can wheel it out against many different black defenses. It’s less about a forced theoretical duel and more about reaching a rich middlegame and simply out-playing the opponent.
As White: the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack (1.b3)
For maximum surprise value, Aravindh has even employed the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, opening with the offbeat 1.b3. The point is pure creativity: fianchetto the queen’s bishop, control the long diagonal, and reach a fresh position where deep home preparation counts for almost nothing. Against elite opponents armed with computer-checked files, walking them into a game where both players have to think from an early stage is a shrewd, very Aravindh choice.
The flank-opening family
The King’s Indian Attack and the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack belong to the same broad philosophy as other flexible flank systems — openings that develop the pieces first and commit the center later, keeping the game in White’s own hands. If you want to explore that family, two great starting points are the Réti Opening (1.Nf3 with an early c4 and g3) and the English Opening (1.c4). Both share Aravindh’s guiding idea: control the game from the wings, dodge the sharpest theory, and reward middlegame understanding over memorization.
The theme tying it all together
Notice the pattern across everything above: Aravindh’s repertoire is built to maximize creativity and minimize rote memory. As Black he picks the Sicilian, an opening that plays for a win and keeps the position rich. As White he leans on flexible, surprising systems — the King’s Indian Attack, the Nimzowitsch-Larsen — that steer opponents out of their preparation and into a fair fight. It’s a repertoire designed by, and for, a player who wants to outplay people rather than out-memorize them.
Want to see these lines produce fireworks? Head to his best games, or read how the repertoire fits his approach in his playing style.
FAQ
What opening does Aravindh Chithambaram play as Black? Most characteristically the Sicilian Defense against 1.e4 — the fightingest reply in chess, which keeps the game unbalanced and playing for a win.
What does Aravindh play as White? He’s a creative, flexible player. Alongside principled main-line chess, he likes surprise systems such as the King’s Indian Attack and even the offbeat Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack (1.b3).
Why does Aravindh play offbeat openings? To sidestep heavy computer preparation. By reaching fresh positions early, he forces opponents to think for themselves — turning the game into a test of over-the-board creativity, one of his biggest strengths.
Can a beginner play Aravindh’s openings? Absolutely. The Sicilian, King’s Indian Attack, Réti, and English are all mainstream, well-documented openings — our opening guides above are a great place to start, and the flank systems in particular are famously friendly to learn.
Keep exploring
Back to the Aravindh Chithambaram profile · his playing style · his best games · or browse all chess players. Learn the lines: Sicilian Defense · Réti Opening · English Opening.
Written and fact-checked by the Chess Lab Academy Editorial Team · Facts verified against Wikipedia, his FIDE profile, and Chess.com, as of July 2026 · Last verified 2026-07-10 · How we verify content.