Chess rules
Which Colour Goes First in Chess?
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White always moves first, then players alternate, one move each. Moving first is a small but genuine advantage because White starts a half-move ahead in developing pieces and fighting for the centre.
The rule
In every game of chess, the player with the white (light-coloured) pieces makes the first move. After that, turns strictly alternate: White, Black, White, Black, and so on. You must move on your turn — you cannot “pass” — and you may only move one piece per turn (castling is the single exception, where the king and a rook move together).
Try the first move
It is White to move from the starting position. Two common first moves stake a claim in the centre — try 1.e4 or 1.d4. The board below lets you make moves for both sides, so you can try a reply as well.
Does moving first actually help?
Moving first gives White the initial opportunity to influence the centre or develop, and large game databases generally show a practical scoring edge for White. The size of that edge depends on the player pool and time control, and it does not settle the result of an individual game. Chess has not been solved, so the game-theoretic result of the starting position is unknown.
Who gets White?
In casual games, the players can choose colours by agreement or at random — for example, one player hides a white pawn in one hand and a black pawn in the other. In tournaments, the pairing system assigns colours and normally tries to balance them over several rounds.