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First move advantage in Western Chess - why does it exist?[Subject Thread] [Add Response]

Derek Nalls wrote on Thu, Aug 9, 2012 03:18 PM UTC:

I think there is a likely chain of events in Chess whereby ...

Having the very first move in the game along with control of a white-black
turn order tempo gives white a head start toward development.  This, in
turn, gives white an irrefutible advantage in mobility throughout the
opening game and results in a small positional advantage.  A small
positional advantage should be built into a large positional advantage.  A
large positional advantage should be built into a small material advantage.
 A small material advantage should be built into a large material
advantage.  A large material advantage will probably, eventually enable
white to checkmate its opponent (black).

If all of the links in this chain of events (plus any I have overlooked)
are solid, they may account for the observed win-loss discrepancy between
white & black without resorting to any mysterious theories.