... or any other board game involving only white and black game pieces (i.e. Go, Reversi). Which color do you choose?

You cannot defer to the other player. It is your turn to pick.

White... because I'm white I suppose goes the internal logic.

Black. Not because of any "I am Teh Awesome™!" or anything, just that it seems easier to see. From the tired old black/white morality thing, I usually seem to be in the latter category anyway. But black just looks much cooler. And more visible. Unless it's dark.

Black so I can see the pieces easier.

Pink!

Real men use pink chess pieces.

Black because I enjoy responding to the other player's moves early in the game. I also tend to play defensively in games like chess, so I like adapting myself to white's style and pace while I'm building up a counter attack.

I have no qualms playing as white, but it's rarely my colour of choice.

White.

First move.

Technically the rules of Chess dictate that White moves first, meaning that the player who chooses White will start with a marginal advantage over the player who chooses Black (Black is forced to react to White's moves from the very beginning).

It doesn't matter that much to me, but I imagine some people might care, so I just thought I'd mention it.

Black. Since white moves first, it's easier to tell what his strategy will be.

either or, I know good ways to play based on starting first or second. its like asking which side of a coin i call when i flip it.

Black, I just have good associations with black, white reminds me of cold snow, black reminds me of warm leather that's been sitting in sunlight. The sun itself usually gets associated with yellow and not white, so that does not count despite the true coloring.

Mostly I just associate white too much with snow to truly like it.

Black. I prefer to counter and trap.

White it looks nicer in my opinion.

Also because white chocolate.

I never got to really play chess. Can I use Stratego? I really love Stratego.

White because I'm a horrible racist (rank of Grand Wizard) and don't want to use any of them funny foreign pieces.

White power!

Ok, that was not politically correct...

When I play with one of my sisters, I always let them choose colour first. Usually they choose white, the more innocent colour, so I'm left with black, sinister and strong.

I always find it interesting how some people think of the black pieces as some kind of negroid opposing force, and that the white pieces are the "good" side. This was a topic I discussed with my friends on occasion when we played chess back in high school. I never thought of the pieces like that until someone pointed it out to me. I guess it's a view that some people have grown up with. I think it has to do with the fact that white is often associated with good while black is considered evil, and of course we have those people who are borderline racists.

I've always gone with black, but if any other board game I go with green or blue.

Black. The white pieces of my chess set are a kind of dirty white which doesn't look that good, while the black pieces look pretty nice.

I'm not sure it's anything to do with race: seems to me it's more a case of light and dark... at least that's what I'd assume, anyway.

I too think it has more to do with the fact that the colours themselves have different associations, but in a game such as chess it isn't surprising that at least young players tend to see two different races fighting each other.

Exactly this actually.

I run a chess club for junior school pupils (7-10 years) so rarely get to choose. Good job too because I'm terribly indecisive and not sure which I'd choose

Am I the only one who picks colors based on how warm they seem? Like I dislike blue but like red, the same way I dislike white but like black.