Why Does White Always Go First in Chess ! Is It Supports Racism? | What Chess Masterminds Said? | History of This Rule | Read it Out.

Meanwhile, the protest towards Black Lives Matter is still on fire; many thinkers and philosophers have pointed out the the main reason of Chess tactics. Many of you might know about why the White always goes first on Glory; and many of you mightn't. 

The rule, why White always first is the most debated rule in Chess. 

Why and Who Decided that the White one Will go first ?

(P.C. - pixabay.com)

The recent protests over the Racism, happened in USA, has up voted the very old law of Chess and smashed questions on Chess that, is Chess promoting Racism?

(P.C. - pixabay.com)

The British Master Johann Löwenthal gave the first proposal for Chess rule and proposed that the White will move first on board.

In 1857, the first American Chess Congress held in the New York City. Johann Löwenthal sent official 2 letters to the Secretary of New York Chess Club, Frederick Perrin. 

The letter

Johann Löwenthal's letter cites that “the advisableness of always giving the first move, in published games, to the player of the white pieces…” This rule wasn't immediately amended and tournament organizers marinated flexibility on first move. 

In the 5th American Chess Congress 1880, the written consent declared saying “The right of first move must be determined by lot. The player must always play with the white men.”

What The First World Champion of Chess did !

Wilhelm Steinitz, the first World Chess Champion repeated this idea in his 1889 book, "The Modern Chess Instructor” where he wrote on page XII: “The players draw by lot for move and choice of color. In all international and public Chess matches and tournaments, however, it is the rule for the first player to have the white men.”

But Why it Feels Like This Rule of Chess is Promoting Racism ? 

Many World Champions do belive that the white one always moves first. They also believe that the first mover will win the match. This ideology isn't hoax, although this thought is considerably has more winning chances, that have been seen throughout the Chess History! 

List of World Chess Champions Who believed that White Goes First and Wins

1) Johann Löwenthal 

2) Wilhelm Steinitz

3) Evgeny Sveshnikov

4) Weaver W. Adams

Revolutionary Step against White Move

Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri, the Number 1 and Number 10 World Champions (P.S. - According to July, 2019) promoted the Move For Equality campaign for equal opportunity to all. In their game the Black Man moved first and their statement was “We broke a rule in chess today, to change minds tomorrow.” This statement was taken as Anti-racist statement. Also, some of them took it as a new chance of Black Man, that now Black Man will move first. There were seen different ideology.

 

But at the end of the debate, who will move first is still a question for everyone, and this question tests the ideology of every Chess player in every corner of the World.

As a Writer I do not support any ideology against any live. I always stand with All Lives Matter ideology, and I urge you to do so. 

(Picture Credit : upsplash.com by Joan Villalon)