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Which is better for winning statistically,playing the white or black?

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wrecking_ball 15-Jul-14, 14:20	Which is better for winning statistically,playing the white or black? Theorists have agreed and disagreed on this issue for centuries.I'm not going to get into a huge page of information here(my info),but I will kind of sum up what has been said over the last 100 years or so. Let me begin with a good Wiki article you may have or have not seen: en.wikipedia.org So,what does all of that great Wiki report boil down to? Answer:It all depends on the skill set of the opponent and/or machine and/or the speed of the game time setting. In other words,results have and will always vary as to the outcome,but chess theorists primarily agree that with absolute best and perfect play,the game resultant outcome has always favored WHITE with a slightly BETTER STATISTICAL WINNING RESULTS over black,combined,of course with a good percentage of draws.There is NO question about it and the statistics do bear out these facts.(Check the Wiki report that DOES NOT lie and IS NOT inaccurate).But then who plays perfect?You and me?No.GM's?Yes and no...and certainly not always. But this white margin diminishes,depending upon the opening used(check Wiki with regards to draws)like the Marshall Attack and the Poisoned Pawn Variation of the Sicilian.And then the win rate DIMINISHES when computer plays computer or whites win rate diminishes in faster blitz play with more errors common on both side's. Other more modern chess theorists are now beginning to state that 1.d4 over 1.e4 (which as far back as Fisher stated "Best by test")is not necessarily true anymore and has been giving white even MORE decisive wins over the old 1.e4(statistically).I can actually agree with this analysis,in part. BUT OVERALL and regardless of anything said in Wiki or any other source or any other book,the pure stats do indeed SHOW and PROVE that white does win more than black if you mixed up everything in a mixer bowl and look for the final count numbers of wins. So,it always has and always will be a small defensive uphill battle for black to win and/or equalize against white with that theoretical advantageous and initiative first move from white. Keep in mind,all of these reports like Wiki are true with respect to the overall stats of white,but as to your and my results with playing the white...not true....well,not all the time,anyway.Take for example my personal stats on GK at this moment.I have been playing mainly masters and above.My win results are 50% playing the white and 57% playing the black.So,that stat seems to go against what these reports say,right?At the moment,yes.....but overall in my lifetime?No!!!I have won more with the white than the black.And that is due to the fact that,while I am not a GM,I do play much more "perfectly"than others,so then the stats do indeed bear out the results....that I am winning more with the white and having a large(approx 48-50%) level of draws.Sometimes a bit higher than 50% in the draw arena after,say,a few hundred games played and looked at as a group stat analysis check. But I have designed this club with already knowing this white theory stuff and will endeavor to show you ways to win with the black(at least a bit more)based upon the theory I have and will continue to present to you.And what is important to note,I have and will continue to show you how to equalize playing the black side,even against much stronger opponents than yourself. How?Remember that Petrov Defense I wrote about?Read it again!The Marshall and others can yield similar results!These are called ...."drawing weapons".I have seen 1500 rated opponents draw with 2500-2600 rated opponents using these weapons!!!Hogwash your thinking?Your wrong!Think again!!!! But,without getting off the subject line too far(with this draw talk),white does indeed win overall more than black when you combine everything in a mix barrel.Check the "winning percentages" chart out in the Wiki link above.You may find it interesting,since it dates historically and then moves forward in time. When many players see results like this,it is no wonder that some play ONLY the white and never the black!!!I've seen it on GK in the past.But to limit yourself and never explore the black side of chess,is limiting your learning abilities and enjoyment of the game as it was meant to be.And of course,in tournaments,especially OTB,you can't get away with that...you must play white AND black!!! WB
wrecking_ball 15-Jul-14, 15:03	Now,let me add one of my personal touch theoretical reasons that black loses a bit more than the white...in some cases anyway.And please don't laugh too hard! Historically,white has represented "good",godly and more pureness with respect to color and then black,of course,has represented more bad,evil,demons,ect ect.Right?Right!(Now,i'm not speaking in terms of racism here,just pure symbolic color with objects,not skin). Now comes the psychological stuff.Do you really understand what is going on in your subconscious mind all the time?Of course you cannot know.From the deep mental subconscious thoughts of the black piece player,several thoughts can occur relative to this "good and pure white piece player".The player using the black pieces can view white as more pure,godly and the player that needs to win and should win,because the white pieces are just that!Subconscious fear can trickle a bit to the conscious state,create pause,create the thought of its "not right" for black evil to win over pure white godly colors. Hogwash?Don't be so sure of that!!!I have a degree in Psychology and have discussed this issue with colleagues in the past,and this same scenario surfaces in many images and thoughts in life,not only chess. And in OTB play?Trust me on this one!Black is NOT quite as easy for the eye see on the board as white and I have had many opponents in the past,especially after many games get tired a bit and miss a move or blunder.In fact,this is one of my psychological ploys I use in non rated,non tourney games at my home against locals or at my local pub)I dim the lights a bit(or sit in a darker corner) and use pieces that kind of blend in to the dark squares when using those black pieces.But since it is my chess board and pieces(renaissance style),I know from experience that my opponent's eyes will tire and drift after just a few games.Then I crush him,and he has no real idea why.In the pubs,I offer to buy him that beer and more beers,while I make up the excuse of a bad stomach ache and have to drink only ginger ale!He then,after getting a bit sleepy,feels bad for my stomach pains and throws in the towel!Then he does not want to play anymore,even the white side due to alcohol!If he does,I say,maybe next time,my stomach hurts!Have another beer!Ha ha!

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wrecking_ball
15-Jul-14, 14:20

Which is better for winning statistically,playing the white or black?

Theorists have agreed and disagreed on this issue for centuries.I'm not going to get into a huge page of information here(my info),but I will kind of sum up what has been said over the last 100 years or so.

Let me begin with a good Wiki article you may have or have not seen:

en.wikipedia.org

So,what does all of that great Wiki report boil down to?

Answer:It all depends on the skill set of the opponent and/or machine and/or the speed of the game time setting.

In other words,results have and will always vary as to the outcome,but chess theorists primarily agree that with absolute best and perfect play,the game resultant outcome has always favored WHITE with a slightly BETTER STATISTICAL WINNING RESULTS over black,combined,of course with a good percentage of draws.There is NO question about it and the statistics do bear out these facts.(Check the Wiki report that DOES NOT lie and IS NOT inaccurate).But then who plays perfect?You and me?No.GM's?Yes and no...and certainly not always.

But this white margin diminishes,depending upon the opening used(check Wiki with regards to draws)like the Marshall Attack and the Poisoned Pawn Variation of the Sicilian.And then the win rate DIMINISHES when computer plays computer or whites win rate diminishes in faster blitz play with more errors common on both side's.

Other more modern chess theorists are now beginning to state that 1.d4 over 1.e4 (which as far back as Fisher stated "Best by test")is not necessarily true anymore and has been giving white even MORE decisive wins over the old 1.e4(statistically).I can actually agree with this analysis,in part.

BUT OVERALL and regardless of anything said in Wiki or any other source or any other book,the pure stats do indeed SHOW and PROVE that white does win more than black if you mixed up everything in a mixer bowl and look for the final count numbers of wins.

So,it always has and always will be a small defensive uphill battle for black to win and/or equalize against white with that theoretical advantageous and initiative first move from white.

Keep in mind,all of these reports like Wiki are true with respect to the overall stats of white,but as to your and my results with playing the white...not true....well,not all the time,anyway.Take for example my personal stats on GK at this moment.I have been playing mainly masters and above.My win results are 50% playing the white and 57% playing the black.So,that stat seems to go against what these reports say,right?At the moment,yes.....but overall in my lifetime?No!!!I have won more with the white than the black.And that is due to the fact that,while I am not a GM,I do play much more "perfectly"than others,so then the stats do indeed bear out the results....that I am winning more with the white and having a large(approx 48-50%) level of draws.Sometimes a bit higher than 50% in the draw arena after,say,a few hundred games played and looked at as a group stat analysis check.

But I have designed this club with already knowing this white theory stuff and will endeavor to show you ways to win with the black(at least a bit more)based upon the theory I have and will continue to present to you.And what is important to note,I have and will continue to show you how to equalize playing the black side,even against much stronger opponents than yourself.

How?Remember that Petrov Defense I wrote about?Read it again!The Marshall and others can yield similar results!These are called ...."drawing weapons".I have seen 1500 rated opponents draw with 2500-2600 rated opponents using these weapons!!!Hogwash your thinking?Your wrong!Think again!!!!

But,without getting off the subject line too far(with this draw talk),white does indeed win overall more than black when you combine everything in a mix barrel.Check the "winning percentages" chart out in the Wiki link above.You may find it interesting,since it dates historically and then moves forward in time.

When many players see results like this,it is no wonder that some play ONLY the white and never the black!!!I've seen it on GK in the past.But to limit yourself and never explore the black side of chess,is limiting your learning abilities and enjoyment of the game as it was meant to be.And of course,in tournaments,especially OTB,you can't get away with that...you must play white AND black!!!

WB

wrecking_ball
15-Jul-14, 15:03

Now,let me add one of my personal touch theoretical reasons that black loses a bit more than the white...in some cases anyway.And please don't laugh too hard!

Historically,white has represented "good",godly and more pureness with respect to color and then black,of course,has represented more bad,evil,demons,ect ect.Right?Right!(Now,i'm not speaking in terms of racism here,just pure symbolic color with objects,not skin).

Now comes the psychological stuff.Do you really understand what is going on in your subconscious mind all the time?Of course you cannot know.From the deep mental subconscious thoughts of the black piece player,several thoughts can occur relative to this "good and pure white piece player".The player using the black pieces can view white as more pure,godly and the player that needs to win and should win,because the white pieces are just that!Subconscious fear can trickle a bit to the conscious state,create pause,create the thought of its "not right" for black evil to win over pure white godly colors.

Hogwash?Don't be so sure of that!!!I have a degree in Psychology and have discussed this issue with colleagues in the past,and this same scenario surfaces in many images and thoughts in life,not only chess.

And in OTB play?Trust me on this one!Black is NOT quite as easy for the eye see on the board as white and I have had many opponents in the past,especially after many games get tired a bit and miss a move or blunder.In fact,this is one of my psychological ploys I use in non rated,non tourney games at my home against locals or at my local pub)I dim the lights a bit(or sit in a darker corner) and use pieces that kind of blend in to the dark squares when using those black pieces.But since it is my chess board and pieces(renaissance style),I know from experience that my opponent's eyes will tire and drift after just a few games.Then I crush him,and he has no real idea why.In the pubs,I offer to buy him that beer and more beers,while I make up the excuse of a bad stomach ache and have to drink only ginger ale!He then,after getting a bit sleepy,feels bad for my stomach pains and throws in the towel!Then he does not want to play anymore,even the white side due to alcohol!If he does,I say,maybe next time,my stomach hurts!Have another beer!Ha ha!

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