Current Events > Why does White get to go first in chess and not black?

(+) Yeah! (+)

what are your thoughts
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rules are rules
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Privilege
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because white is better

race realism
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White privilege is real omg
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White so serious?
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Ladies first
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The first-move advantage in chess is the inherent advantage of the player (White) who makes the first move in chess. Chess players and theorists generally agree that White begins the game with some advantage. Since 1851, compiled statistics support this view; White consistently wins slightly more often than Black, usually scoring between 52 and 56 percent. White's winning percentage is about the same for tournament games between humans and games between computers. However, White's advantage is less significant in blitz games and games between novices.

Chess players and theoreticians have long debated whether, given perfect play by both sides, the game should end in a win for White, or a draw. Since approximately 1889, when World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz addressed this issue, the overwhelming consensus has been that a perfectly played game would end in a draw. However, a few notable players have argued that White's advantage may be sufficient to force a win: Weaver Adams and Vsevolod Rauzer claimed that White is winning after the first move 1.e4, while Hans Berliner argued that 1.d4 may win for White.

Since 1988, chess theorists have challenged previously well-established views about White's advantage. Grandmaster (GM) András Adorján wrote a series of books on the theme that "Black is OK!", arguing that the general perception that White has an advantage is founded more in psychology than reality. GM Mihai Suba and others contend that sometimes White's initiative disappears for no apparent reason as a game progresses. The prevalent style of play for Black today is to seek dynamic, unbalanced positions with active counterplay, rather than merely trying to equalize.

Modern writers also argue that Black has certain countervailing advantages. The consensus that White should try to win can be a psychological burden for the white player, who sometimes loses by trying too hard to win. Some symmetrical openings (i.e. those where both players make the same moves) can lead to situations where moving first is a disadvantage, either for psychological or objective reasons.
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It's the rules. I actually prefer to be black in chess. I'm a better reactionary player, setting up long defenses and moves so that when white attacks, i can decimate them with minimal casualties.
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TheJBD posted...

The consensus that White should try to win can be a psychological burden for the white player, who sometimes loses by trying too hard to win

Wahhh poor white chess pieces
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I don't see the advantage going first but do see the advantage of serving first in tennis.
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ehhwhatever posted...

I don't see the advantage going first but do see the advantage of serving first in tennis.

I feel that's more because of the game limit per set of tennis while chess doesn't have that.
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What's up with all the vacuous "it's the rules" comments?
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ChrisHanson24 posted...

because white is better

whoa
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ThyCorndog posted...

race realism

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