Which side in chess would win if both players played “perfectly”?

Question

Isn’t chess a “finite” game where no luck is involved? Are computers able to calculate perfect strategies for both players?

And if yes, then which side is at the advantage?

In: 11

Answer 1

We’re not sure. We strongly suspect that it is a draw.

We believe that White has the advantage, but that with perfect play black can hold on and get a draw.

It is indeed finite, so in principle one could compute a perfect strategy, but we don’t have the techniques/computing power for it yet. Despite being finite, the possible options make a game that is ‘too big’ to know for sure.