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In chess, why does white go first?

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Srinibas_Masanta

My curiosity lead me to this question.

Please comment if know you the reason or any info. regarding this topic..

andrewnox

Because someone has to.

MitSud
I believe black used to go first until the middle ages when it changed, I’ve also heard players simply chose until the first international chess bodies decided that one play should go first and chose white.
Also post 2.
Rocky64

There was a vote on Chess.com about 5 years ago on who should move first and White won. Sorry you missed the vote.

kindaspongey

If I remember correctly, Staunton proposed that White always move first.

solomonko

In the game of go, black plays first, unless it is a handicapped game. But in anciant times white played first. I wonder why.

PuzzlingManeuvers

Actually, the pieces weren't white. There was no true white as they banned killing elephants like they do cows in India, no ivory. What happened was it was a rainy day and they were trying to play chess outside. All the pieces got muddy brown from the dirt being mixed with rain.

 

Since they were playing with marble pieces, after the rain washed all the dirt away what you got was a shiny surface on the pieces. When they woke up (which was the founding of adjournment, Fischer should be thankful for that), they forgot who had the next move.

 

So, they decided that the shiniest colored piece should go first since it was daytime. Nighttime, the black pieces, would be used for more unconscious thinking like in your sleep.

president_max

Yes chess should not even be turn based.  That way no one can complain about the opponent wasting their time.

IpswichMatt

Copied from "quora":

The story I heard, was in the past, they chose for both color and to see who moved first.  Then at some point, it became customary and later a rule for white to move first.  Supposedly black is the lucky color, and they said it would be too much of an advantage for a player to have the lucky color (black) AND move first!

 

I've heard this too, about the Black pieces being lucky

ANOK1

the ice bridge looks fragile between the two opposing camps , which brave or foolhardy side will test it by stepping into it first ?

and even if they dare they face not only breaking ice but hails of arrows as they approach the wiser well entrenched foe , go ahead be white if you get the choice , take the step into blacks defences , be ready though as they may be very well prepared to receive you into their midst

ANOK1
Srinibas_Masanta

I got the answer from internet and it was like this-

As late as the Mid-19th century it was not established that white always moved first. 
In 1857, Lowenthal (an English Master) recommended to the First American Chess Congress that the player with the White Pieces always move first. However, this advice was not followed strictly. 
In 1889, Steinitz declared a similar rule, and Lasker's Manual Of Chess (1927) states "White makes the first move". Therefore, it would be safe to say that the rule has been in force since 1927.

Srinibas_Masanta
IpswichMatt wrote:

Copied from "quora":

The story I heard, was in the past, they chose for both color and to see who moved first.  Then at some point, it became customary and later a rule for white to move first.  Supposedly black is the lucky color, and they said it would be too much of an advantage for a player to have the lucky color (black) AND move first!

 

I've heard this too, about the Black pieces being lucky


It's a general doubt.. so, it not a new thing that this exact question is asked on other website. So for your kind information I didn't copy it from any other website/source.

And black being lucky- Never heard of such reason... maybe this could be a reason..

kindaspongey
CaissaKnight64 wrote:
... The first recorded rule requiring White to move first, I believe, was the rules handbook of the New York 1880 tournament. Later in 1889, world champion Steinitz advocated this as a standard.

"The players draw by lot for move and choice of color. In all international and public chess matches and tournaments, however, it is the rule for the first player to have the white chessmen." - The Modern Chess Instructor by Wilhelm Steinitz (1889)

DragonDude1
CaissaKnight64 wrote:
Actually, there are records, letters, etc, showing that it was discussed on and off for years. Up until the late 1800s it was common for the first move being played by white or black, including the great international tournament of 1851. The first recorded rule requiring White to move first, I believe, was the rules handbook of the New York 1880 tournament. Later in 1889, world champion Steinitz advocated this as a standard.

 

CelticG

An interesting question, with some interesting answers!

BlindfoldMan003

I think they just made a poll and everyone said white so idk
Now really, idk

ema9on

Because if they don't, then black moves first 

ABC_of_EVERYTHING

And it is not going to change as i think the people now at the top federation have white's majority. 

NilsIngemar

I read that originally people did not like white because a white flag means surrender. So to give people a reason to want to play with the white pieces, it was decided white goes first.