Better with Black

In theory, the player with the white pieces has the advantage but I find myself, it seems more often than not, playing better and winning more games when I play the black pieces. Anyone else have the same experience?

Any thoughts on why that is?

the dark side of the force

Chess players within our class ratings just don't know enough how to play white....or black. Or simply, we still lack tactical strategies.

Perhaps...

Playing white I am bored with the opening I usually play, the only one I know fairly well and doesn't get me in trouble in the first ten moves (most of the times). I'm glad when I play black and the initiative for the opening comes from the opponent. I guess I'm more alert when playing black and more careful in defence. But in the middle game you could take the board away and I wouldn't be able to tell if I was playing white or black

AyoV, I think you're right about playing more carefully as black. Maybe when we're on the defense right from the start we just seem to pay more attention. Hmm. 

I'm thinking, maybe the routine opening of the white player could be an advantage for black, by playing moves that are not in the books. but these are difficult to find I guess.

does dark matter matter?

i like having the black pieces too , to me it isnt a disadvantage but a fun challenge to establish equality in development and also counter attacking to gain the initiative

I prefer playing white and I win a higher percentage of games with white than black.  However, I'm about equally comfortable with both.  I think if you do better with black, it might be that because of your style, you play best when defending or responding.  If that's the case, maybe you should consider some reversed openings as white.

I play better with the black pieces, because I know the opening lines and resulting middlegames better.  With white, I shy away from main lines due to there is too much to study.  I normally transpose into a KIA to avoid another semi-closed system, and the pressure I normally exert is gone.

I used to play a little better with black when I was lower rated (about 52% of games I won over thousands of games played on another i.d. like 7 years ago, so statistically valid)....my theory is that it made me think more about what I was doing because you have to respond rather than initiate.

FBloggs, that's an interesting point, that my style of play is defensive to whatever my opponent plays. It works with the earlier idea of being more alert as well. Interesting.

hi yes fbloggs , i am a fan of a reverse sicilian , which does hand the initiative to black (white makes loads of early pawn moves ) but i agree re reverse opening lines , well worth trying out

Some people do better (or like it better) defending than attacking (later, they counterattack).

I tend to do slightly better with White, but it's marginal indeed.

Well, if you are good on tactics and counter-attacks playing black is not a problem, but don't focus on too much defense if you are not great as Petrosian. Playing in full defense has a lot of disadvantages. Always aim for a better position to attack and learn to sacrifice for a reasonable advantage. In my opinion Sicilian is an answer for aggressive players. King's Indian, Slav, Carro-khan for positional players and French defense for defensive players. Well, It's just an example it's up to you guys which system you are going to follow. Your comfort zone will be your best weapon and your skill of reasoning will be the room for your improvement.

So dark and oh so cold, it's oh so cold, oh so cold, oh!

Black is superior!