How big is Red's first-move advantage?
These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.
Direct answer
Real but modest: master databases put Red somewhere around 53–56%, depending on era and level. That is smaller than White's edge in chess. Below expert level it is completely swamped by the effect of a single missed tactic.
What Red actually gets
Not a material or structural advantage — the right to choose the opening. Playing 炮二平五 forces Black to answer a specific threat rather than choose freely, and setting the agenda is worth a fraction of a move over a whole game.
Why it is smaller than in chess
Partly because there are sound, well-understood equalising systems — Screen Horses foremost — and partly because the confined general means attacks are concrete enough that a small tempo edge does not compound the way it can in chess.
Related questions
Should Black play for a draw?
At master level Black's job is to equalise, then play for a win. Below that, play for a win from move one.
Who plays Red in a tournament?
Decided by draw or by the pairing rules of the event.
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