My friend Ben plays better as black. How can he improve as white?

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Just practice i guess 0_0. Is this even a relevant form topic?

He probably likes to wait and respond to white's move, it doesent need to be much wrong in his knowledge, I think he would improve fast as white if he study this book:

"Reasses your chess" Silman.

If he bother's to read this excellent book, he'll be able to find the right plan, it's no point in having the iniative (white) if you don't know what to do (plan)

Uhhh, it's about chess, isn't it?  And these are the chess forums, aren't they?  Yea I think it'll be alright.

Maybe he's afraid to take the initiative and play aggressive moves. Or maybe he's overaggressive with white and destroys his position.

I play better as Black too.

Sometimes with white you have too many options and feel the need to attack.  Many players who prefer black are having a hard time following the basic opening principle when they are white: "Don't move a piece twice unless you have to, get everything into the game."

Hey moderators, this guy is being bad...

The first year or two that I played chess all I did was play the black pieces.  I literally never played with the white pieces.  Weird, I know.  The website I used to play at 10 years ago had a room called the "Park Bench", and I'd always sit on the right side (black side).  When I finally started playing the white pieces I was completely lost.  Everything seemed backwards and mirrored.  The moves seemed a lot different.  For me the remedy was time, after playing the whites pieces for a while I eventually got used to them and that was that.  Is your friend having a visualisation issue or and aggressiveness (or lack thereof) issue?

tell him to play the same opening he plays as black with white...or just tell him to go to and buy an opening book...

it all depends on what openings are played and the style of players you play against etc and of course the strength of the player. Best thing i can suggest is to buy an opening book

Play a3!

that is a rather unorthodox opening for white?

I don't think he OP is coming back...

thats not quite natural, is'nt it?