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In chess, the player who moves first is referred to as "White" and the player who moves second is referred to as "Black". Similarly, the pieces that each conducts are called, respectively, "the white pieces" and "the black pieces". The pieces are often not literally white and black, but some other colors. The 64 squares of the chessboard, which is colored in a checkered pattern, are likewise referred to as "white squares" or "light squares", and "black squares" or "dark squares", though usually the squares are of contrasting light and dark color rather than literally white and black. For example, the squares on plastic boards may be off-white and green, while those on wood boards are often light brown and dark brown.
white: 1. There are 16 light-colored pieces and 32 squares called white. 2. When capitalized, the word refers to the player of the white pieces.
An entry in the Glossary of terms in the Laws of Chess at the end of the current FIDE laws appears for black, too.
In old chess writings, the sides are often called Red and Black, because those were the two colors of ink then commonly available when hand-drawing or printing chess position diagrams.