From the source rules

Who goes first in Chess?

FIDE Laws effective 1 January 2023 · standard chess (English)

White, the player with the light-colored pieces, makes the first move. Black moves next, and the players then alternate turns.

Rule details

This instruction identifies the starting color after colors have been assigned; the cited Laws do not provide a universal method for choosing who receives White.

For clocked competitive play, Article 6.6 says to start White's clock at the scheduled beginning.

Source & edition

FIDE Laws of Chess effective 1 January 2023International Chess Federation (FIDE) · Introduction 0.1; Articles 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.3 and 6.5-6.7 · Checked 2026-09-26

Image: Devcore / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0; resized) · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 1.0

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<blockquote class="whogoesfirst-rule" cite="https://whogoesfirst.fun/games/chess-fide-laws-2023-en/">
  <p><strong>Who goes first in Chess?</strong> White, the player with the light-colored pieces, makes the first move. Black moves next, and the players then alternate turns.</p>
  <p>Source: <a href="https://whogoesfirst.fun/games/chess-fide-laws-2023-en/">Official starting rule on Who Goes First?</a> (FIDE Laws effective 1 January 2023 · standard chess (English))</p>
</blockquote>

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