So what does one of the most aggressive attackers of his generation actually play? Mamedyarov’s repertoire is built for combat: fighting defenses as Black that invite a war, and flexible, unpredictable systems as White designed to drag opponents into a real game. Here’s the tour — with a link to a full guide for each opening so you can learn to play them yourself.
As Black vs 1.d4: the King’s Indian Defense
Mamedyarov is one of the modern torchbearers of the King’s Indian Defense — arguably the most exciting way to meet 1.d4. The idea is bold: Black lets White build a big pawn center, castles quickly, and then launches a full-blooded pawn storm at White’s king, usually on the kingside. It’s a race — White expands on the queenside, Black attacks on the kingside — and whoever gets there first often wins.
The King’s Indian suits Shak perfectly. It’s an opening where attacking energy and calculation matter more than memorizing quiet equality, and it leads to exactly the sharp, double-edged middlegames where his intuition shines. He knows it from both sides, too — he’s even used the White pieces in a King’s Indian structure to beat Magnus Carlsen (see his best games).
As Black vs 1.e4: the Najdorf Sicilian
Against 1.e4, Mamedyarov is comfortable in the Najdorf Sicilian — the most famous and most heavily-analyzed variation of the Sicilian Defense. After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6, Black stakes out a flexible, combative position that fights for the initiative from the very start.
The Najdorf is the perfect fit for an attacker: it’s razor-sharp, rich in tactics, and it hands Black real winning chances rather than passive equality. It’s no accident that some of the most aggressive players in history have made it their weapon of choice.
As White: flexible 1.d4 and the English
With the white pieces, Mamedyarov is hard to prepare for — and that’s by design. He plays flexible 1.d4 systems and the English Opening (1.c4), often steering the game toward positions rich in strategic and tactical possibilities rather than forcing a single memorized line.
The English is a wonderful match for his outlook. It’s a “flank” opening that keeps the game flexible and asks the opponent real questions early, without committing to the heavily-analyzed main lines of 1.e4 or 1.d4. That freedom to maneuver — and to surprise — is exactly what a creative attacker wants.
The offbeat streak
Here’s one of the most distinctive things about Mamedyarov’s opening play: he loves to go off the beaten path. He’s known for reaching for unorthodox, surprising opening lines — sometimes classical, sometimes downright quirky — specifically to drag opponents out of their memorized preparation and into a fresh fight. In a top-level chess world increasingly shaped by deep computer analysis, choosing to out-think your opponent over the board rather than out-memorize them is both riskier and rarer. It’s a big part of why his games are so entertaining, and why opponents find him so uncomfortable to face. Some of these forays wander into genuine gambit territory — if the idea of sacrificing material for activity appeals to you, our guide to gambits is a great place to start.
The classical side: sturdy structures too
For all his fireworks, Mamedyarov is a complete, well-rounded grandmaster who can also play solid, classical chess when the situation calls for it — comfortable in time-tested structures like the Queen’s Gambit Declined, the sturdy backbone of many elite 1.d4 battles. The point isn’t that he only attacks; it’s that he brings the same fighting spirit and creativity even to quieter systems, always hunting for the moment to seize the initiative.
Why his repertoire fits him so well
The beauty of Mamedyarov’s repertoire is how it mirrors his personality at the board. As Black he reaches for the most combative, attacking defenses available (the King’s Indian and the Najdorf). As White he keeps things flexible and unpredictable (1.d4 systems, the English, and offbeat lines) so he can steer the game onto his own terms. It’s not a repertoire built to memorize the “best” computer lines; it’s one built to reach positions he understands and enjoys — sharp, imbalanced, and full of fight.
What his repertoire teaches you
There’s a genuinely useful lesson hiding in Mamedyarov’s choices: pick openings that suit how you like to play, not just what’s fashionable.
- A fighting defense (his is the King’s Indian) gives you a plan and an attack rather than passive equality — great for players who like to make things happen.
- A flexible, low-theory system as White (his is the English) lets you play chess rather than memorize reams of forcing lines.
- Counterplay over passivity. Even Shak’s solid choices aim for active, double-edged games. Aiming to do something is a great habit at any level.
You don’t need to memorize endless theory — start by learning the plans and ideas behind one opening from each category, and you’ll already be ahead of most casual opponents.
Keep exploring
See these openings do damage in his best games, learn how he uses them in his playing style, or head back to the full Mamedyarov profile. Ready to learn one? Start with the King’s Indian Defense guide or the English Opening guide.
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 · Positions engine-verified for legality · Last verified 2026-07-10 · How we verify content.