Is There an Advantage to Starting First?
Does moving first guarantee a win? Statistics show that White has a slight edge, winning more often than Black at master levels. This article explores the "first-move advantage" in chess, explaining why White holds the initiative and how Black can neutralize it. Learn what this advantage means for your games and how to handle both colors.
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.
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