Anyone else prefer to play as Black?

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Avatar of ThinWhiteDuke85

When I play as Black I often feel more "in control" and certainly looking at some of my games I'm much more assertive and aggressive as Black (despite the fact my win percentage is less than when I'm White, but I think that's the same for everyone). 

As White I often find myself on the backfoot more and have to dig myself out of situations. Not so much as Black.

Does anyone else think this way? 

Avatar of CenterMass51075

I understand.  I think this is normal for lower ranked players.  I am more disciplined and confident as black.  As white, I find myself wanting to attack before most pieces are developed; usually a tempo off.  I know this will change as my knowledge of openings and tactics improves.  Keep up the good fight.  Cheers

Avatar of Wits-end

I feel successfully and equally average playing both white and black. 

Avatar of Chuck639

I enjoy playing the Sicilian as black, so I’m more than happy when I see e4.

I score 68% with white and 61% as black in rapid. In blitz and bullet, it’s 50/50 so I just roll the dice and have fun from either side.

With white, I like to steer the game and as black, I like to play for imbalance and counter attacks.

Now when I see d4, that’s a different story….

Avatar of DasBurner

I'm enjoying when black plays e4 now after learning the Alekhine but not so happy if he plays d4 + nf3 as I don't have a response to that yet really

Avatar of brianchesscake

maybe with black you feel more like the underdog and have something to prove, which gives you a psychological boost

Avatar of Ilampozhil25
ThinWhiteDuke85 wrote:

When I play as Black I often feel more "in control" and certainly looking at some of my games I'm much more assertive and aggressive as Black (despite the fact my win percentage is less than when I'm White, but I think that's the same for everyone). 

False. I do much much better with black.

As White I often find myself on the backfoot more and have to dig myself out of situations. Not so much as Black.

 

 

Does anyone else think this way? 

 

Avatar of tygxc

If you feel more comfortable with black, then open 1 a3 as white, as Adolf Anderssen used to do.

Avatar of PRWoodpusher

I'm 25-20-2 overall but

      10-13   as white

       15-7-2 as black.

 

Avatar of PRWoodpusher
tygxc wrote:

If you feel more comfortable with black, then open 1 a3 as white, as Adolf Anderssen used to do.

I will keep that in mind, thank you.

Avatar of AyushBlundersAgain

I like playing with White more but I'm usually a lot more interested in playing Black since the Caro-Kann is so positional

Avatar of darkunorthodox88

yes, this sentiment is most often found among class players. Beginners are sufficiently weak that the 1st move advantage can lead to far more victories as white (development advantage compounds really well for the white pieces), and experts and masters are sufficiently strong that first move advantage begins to clearly manifest in game statistics.

But class players in this goldilocks zone where style and preference still can matter more than pure objectivity, and yet are unlikely to be blown up at the board over things beginners can be wiped out for (fried livers, early queen tricks etc), so some of them preferring black mostly for psychological reasons is not uncommon. 

I think i even went through a similar phase, because i liked counterattacking more than having the initiative but that was a good 600-800 points ago. As you get stronger, you will start "Feeling" the relevance of first move advantage more and more.


Avatar of Optimissed
darkunorthodox88 wrote:

yes, this sentiment is most often found among class players. Beginners are sufficiently weak that the 1st move advantage can lead to far more victories as white (development advantage compounds really well for the white pieces), and experts and masters are sufficiently strong that first move advantage begins to clearly manifest in game statistics.

Not too sure that made sense. Beginners should probably win or lose equally with either colour. Masters win more with white because they prefer playing with white and may put more work into it, on the theory that if they win with white, that holds the balance and any wins with black are a bonus. But you speak as if there's a forced win in chess!

Avatar of jamesstack

I think a lot of has to do with knowing your openings well....as black I find it easier to know what you are getting into. Basically know something against 1. e4 1. d4 1. c4 and 1. Nf3 and you are basically fine opening prep wise for most games. Prep for white can be more complex....say you play 1. e4 then you have to be ready for 1...e5 1..e6 1..Nf6 1...c6 1..d5 1...c5 1..d6 and some of these have truckloads of theory with lots of different variations. Depending on which variation you choose the sicilian can take a lot of time to prepare for all by itself. Of course there can be some overlap between your black prep and white prep but I think overall the white prep is the more difficult task.

Avatar of SunGokuBr

I experienced that and I can say that, for me, it comes from low game repertoire.

As a begginer it's commom to not understand concepts of creating tactics and plans on the board,  so it's more likely to make the first blunder as white (hang a piece or bring the queen out too soon, for example) as you have the initiative. So, again, for me, I think that winning a good percentage of games with white is about knowing the opening you're using. It's plans, which pawn can I trade, which I can't, where will be the weaknesses. So you can develop with purpose and avoid making a blunder, which takes a more mature player, which means it will come from game experience.

Playing blacks, the opening white chooses it's less significant (again, for beginners like me), cause you can play a "reactive" game. You will calculate much more based on what the opponent is doing, so he's giving you a plan to react to, which is easier than knowing how to use the initiative with whites. 

Also, playing blacks gives you the opportunity to react to the first blunder of the game, which usually is a game decider on low ranks.


Our stats are very much alike, so I believe this is what's happening to you too. 

Avatar of SunGokuBr

Funny fact: when I was at my first months on chess.com, like you, I posted the exact same thing here on the forum.

 

Avatar of SunGokuBr
darkunorthodox88 wrote:

yes, this sentiment is most often found among class players. Beginners are sufficiently weak that the 1st move advantage can lead to far more victories as white (development advantage compounds really well for the white pieces), and experts and masters are sufficiently strong that first move advantage begins to clearly manifest in game statistics.

But class players in this goldilocks zone where style and preference still can matter more than pure objectivity, and yet are unlikely to be blown up at the board over things beginners can be wiped out for (fried livers, early queen tricks etc), so some of them preferring black mostly for psychological reasons is not uncommon. 

I think i even went through a similar phase, because i liked counterattacking more than having the initiative but that was a good 600-800 points ago. As you get stronger, you will start "Feeling" the relevance of first move advantage more and more.


I'm no master but I agree that after a time using and studying the same opening, the advantage of initiative becomes clearly more important.

Avatar of Ilampozhil25

my stats-

(rated 15|10)

9-3-15(W-D-L)as white

and 16-2-11 as black

Avatar of imamsonberkay
Nice
Avatar of Optimissed
SunGokuBr wrote:
darkunorthodox88 wrote:

yes, this sentiment is most often found among class players. Beginners are sufficiently weak that the 1st move advantage can lead to far more victories as white (development advantage compounds really well for the white pieces), and experts and masters are sufficiently strong that first move advantage begins to clearly manifest in game statistics.

But class players in this goldilocks zone where style and preference still can matter more than pure objectivity, and yet are unlikely to be blown up at the board over things beginners can be wiped out for (fried livers, early queen tricks etc), so some of them preferring black mostly for psychological reasons is not uncommon. 

I think i even went through a similar phase, because i liked counterattacking more than having the initiative but that was a good 600-800 points ago. As you get stronger, you will start "Feeling" the relevance of first move advantage more and more.


I'm no master but I agree that after a time using and studying the same opening, the advantage of initiative becomes clearly more important.

It becomes less important. Black is allowed to study too.