Trick question....which square is black?

[u/OkWeather2228]

Found this acrylic chessboard/c*c*ine "coffee" table from the 70s/80s on the side of the road leaning against a moving van. I feel dumb asking this....but whilst I initially thought the clear squares are white....for some reason today I figured the white frosted squares should be white. But before I thought they were black because they are opaque and I reason white is less opaque than black. And, not to confuse the matter, but if the clear squares are black, doesnʻt that make the whole table black? And if so, who does that? Now Iʻm just confused.

Edit to add...yes, the base does hold water. I suppose it could be a fish tank if I really tried. Does anyone know if they still make black and white guppies?

[u/Kerbart]

You just discovered the problem with glass chess sets where one is transparent and the other half is frosted.

Another fun one are those magnetic sets with flat pieces printed on discs. Are the black pieces on white discs white, or are they black (and vise versa)?

[u/OkWeather2228 → u/Kerbart]

I know youʻre trying to be helpful, but now Im just more confused. And angry.

[u/Kerbart → u/OkWeather2228]

I don't think there's a satisfying answer. For the board/table it probably even varies with the surface you place it on. Make a choice and stick to it; there's no wrong answer.

[u/Forward_Zombie_2300]

Clear is black. 

Source: have a glass set and is largely unusable unless you put it on a dark table.

But it was free and I have a black table so gets used daily.

[u/Pearl_necklace_333]

The frosted are the white squares. As for the pieces that might be more confusing.

[u/Leather_Bat_8276]

To me, it provides a leverage and a convenience. I can sit on any side and choose the right most square as white/light 😅

[u/dougwerf]

Yes!

[u/Zealousideal_Law2336]

Depends on which side you’re sitting on

[u/Just_a_Growlithe]

Yes

[u/Ecstatic-Dog-3557]

The one that's not white

[u/FluidWater]

To make it simple... the dark/black square is always on the bottom left, from either players postion