Do you prefer playing as white or black?

I don't know why but I don't enjoy playing as black and I can't put my finger on it. I feel like i'm always defending and they have an advantage and I dread getting them to the point where I will take a break when I have to play as black next.

Does anyone else have this?

I prefer to play as Ashkenazi Jewish. They have the advantage of higher than average IQ.

It doesn't matter. Just do the best I can.

I have always enjoyed playing as white and i've spent a lot more time studying openings as white. When you play as black, it feels like you have to learn theory all over again as everything is opposite. I'll get there eventually but I still dread playing as the black pieces.

If you start preferring to play as either side you risk disadvantaging yourself if you get used to thinking more deeply about either side when you learn.

Exactly, I'm trying to break the habit and study both sides equally.

black is beautiful , especially in chess , so many openings that a player with the black pieces can choose from and make part of their repertoire 

learn a few and you will see why black is beautiful 

if you find yourself always being on the defensive with the black pieces jamesplayspiano , then perhaps the latvian gambit is something you might enjoy . but study it well first to see if its for you 

practice , study , always look to why you are getting troubles with black pieces , ie post game analysis , 

if you put the effort in im sure the rewards will come

I prefer White because I get to control the opening. I like to play the English and when I am black I feel like I always have to react to their moves rather than playing freely myself.

I have played 5 competitive games for my club this season and I have been black in all of them...

I'll have a look into that opening. I've been studying karo-kann, french defence, Sicilian open/closed, berlin and kings indian at the moment

yep, this is why I hate playing as black until the middle game.

What does everyone play against 1.d4? I normally play 1. ...e6 but it's drawing for me a lot. Any suggestions?

I play e5 englund gambit, if black takes, then I develop my knight to c6, white protects pawn with knight to f3. Queen to e7 and then if white is dumb enough to move their bishop to F4 which a lot of players do then queen to B4, checking and pinning the bishop. loads of traps in that opening as well

Thanks

all good solid openings there jamesplayspiano , and less risky than gambits 

kingrook , perhaps the old benoni , ie 1 d4 c5 

if unfamiliar with this then worth a bit of study 

Hello