Is it better to play as White or Black? Is there a difference?

Hi! I was just wondering if there is a difference between the white and Black chess pieces. Are there any advantages of  one over the other? I think I have heard that one color goes first. Is this true?

With white pieces you move 1st and play a game your used to and want, with black pieces you play and depends what they start with and you can play an opening you don't want to 

White starts first so is always half a move ahead, so should have the best chances for initiative, attack, etc.
At the top level this means something, at lower amateur levels, the difference isn't as apparent.
Most people tend to win 50% of their games, but broken down, generally its winning 52% of their games when white and winning 48% of their games when black. So there is a very small edge but I wouldnt worry too much about it.

If you feel that you are always in passive positions with black, try playing something more open or aggressive, or even look into some gambit lines to regain some initiative.

@1

Chess is a draw with best play from both sides,
but the path to the draw is narrower for black and wider for white.

Ok. Thank you so much!

With white you choose the first move. However, black chooses the specific opening. E4 could become a scandinavian, a french, a caro, a sicilian, etc. Same thing with d4. There are some specific systems, but often it is black who gets more say in what type of position is played.

You're not your

@7

"That advantage becomes more important the better you get"
++ No, the better you get the less important the first move advantage becomes: they usually draw.

I mean. There is a first move advantage for white.

It doesn't really matter though. Outcome of the game depends entirely on the players and not their sides.

From a tactical standpoint, white has a small advantage because they start with something called "the initiative". White can play aggressively, and black will have to defend. They also have a half-move development advantage. However, it is easy to play the wrong move and give the advantage to black.