Is There an Advantage to Starting First?
In chess, the player with the White pieces always moves first. But does this give them a real advantage? Is it unfair? The answer depends on whether you are a World Champion or a beginner.
The Stats: White Wins More Often
Statistics from millions of master-level games show that White has a clear advantage. Because White gets to move first, they can create threats before Black has a chance to set up.
As you can see, White wins roughly 10% more often than Black in professional play. This edge is called "The Initiative."
Does It Matter for You? (The Reality)
If you are a beginner or intermediate player (rated under 2000), the first move advantage is irrelevant.
Why? Because games at this level are not decided by a tiny positional edge. They are decided by:
- Blunders: Giving away pieces for free.
- Tactics: Missing a fork or pin.
- Time Trouble: Running out of time on the clock.
You can easily win as Black if your opponent makes a single mistake. Do not worry about playing Black!
Why Does White Go First?
It wasn't always this way! Until the late 1800s, players would often flip a coin to see who moved first, regardless of which color pieces they used. The rule "White Moves First" was standardized to make tournaments and notation easier to organize.
Next Steps
- Opening Principles – How to use your first move correctly.
- Best First Moves – e4 vs d4 explained.
- The Golden Rules – What to do regardless of your color.