user11309: I have used e.g. the game of paper, stone and scissors. Is there another method which determines who has white or black? If so, what is the method? 

user18223: The chess set I have here in front of me the pieces are both in black bags so someone picks one bag and that is what they play. I just realized this.

user7002: Another way is to bet for black in an armageddon setup (draw means win by black).
For example, white will have say 60 min. Players bet for the time allowance of black. Whoever offers least amount plays black with that amount of time.

user-1: White always moves first. To determine who plays white in a friendly game, you can:

Toss a coin
Roll a dice
Play an even number of games, alternating sides
Play rock-paper-scissors
One player takes a white pawn and black pawn, and secretly places one in each hand. The other player picks the hand and therefore the colour to play
Use any other agreed method

In tournament play, who plays which colour is determined by the organisers and you should be informed of which colour to play before each game. If you are unsure, ask an arbiter or an organiser for clarification.
Please note that the initiative is a specific chess term defined below:

Initiative in a chess position belongs to the player who can make threats that cannot be ignored.

Source: Wikipedia

11309: <p>I have used e.g. the game of paper, stone and scissors. Is there another method which determines who has white or black? If so, what is the method? </p>
 18223: <p>The chess set I have here in front of me the pieces are both in black bags so someone picks one bag and that is what they play. I just realized this.</p>
 7002: <p>Another way is to bet for black in an armageddon setup (draw means win by black).</p>

<p>For example, white will have say 60 min. Players bet for the time allowance of black. Whoever offers least amount plays black with that amount of time.</p>
 -1: <p>White always moves first. To determine who plays white in a friendly game, you can:</p>

<ul>
<li>Toss a coin</li>
<li>Roll a dice</li>
<li>Play an even number of games, alternating sides</li>
<li>Play rock-paper-scissors</li>
<li>One player takes a white pawn and black pawn, and secretly places one in each hand. The other player picks the hand and therefore the colour to play</li>
<li>Use any other agreed method</li>
</ul>

<p>In tournament play, who plays which colour is determined by the organisers and you should be informed of which colour to play before each game. If you are unsure, ask an arbiter or an organiser for clarification.</p>

<p>Please note that <em>the initiative</em> is a specific chess term defined below:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Initiative in a chess position belongs to the player who can make threats that cannot be ignored.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initiative_(chess)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a></p>
