First-move advantage in chess

The catching is the player who leads the white chess pieces and thus has according to chess rules, the right to begin the game of chess. He is so called because he always considered first before the player makes his half-move with the black pieces, it is therefore also referred to as a result of moving. The small advantage of the White player to start the game and make them a chess opening phase of the game, is also referred to as the starting advantage. Experts are indeed at odds as to whether it is an objective advantage, but statistically wins White in 37 % of cases in human roles in computer games in about 40% of cases, while black and about 27 % (Human), respectively 29% ( computer ) of lots decides for himself.

In chess tournaments depends on the Tournament, who the white and who leads the black pieces. In the Swiss system pairings will be drawn according to certain criteria. Care is taken, inter alia, that no player is twice in a row have the same color. Should this be the case, will continue to ensure that the balance sheet as a whole remains approximately balanced.

In team chess, for example, in league play, players on the same team receive alternating the white and black pieces. The color assignment is dependent on whether it is home or away games. The players of the home team lead at odd boards the black on the straight boards the white stones.

References and sources

• Laws of Chess