Chess opener

Latest answer — September 08, 2026

5 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

In chess, White is the player or side that makes the opening move. Thus White is the chess “opener,” rather than a particular opening strategy.

Clue type:
Definition
A chessboard showing the white pieces positioned to make the first move.

WaPo Mini Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 08, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1What might precede a life?
  2. 4Adrenaline product
  3. 5Chess opener
  4. 6"Barbie" narrator Mirren
  5. 7Wild ones may be sown

Down

  1. 1Deliberation determination
  2. 2___ Park (town near the hotel that inspired "The Shining")
  3. 3"___ She Found Me" (film directed by 6-Across Hunt)
  4. 4"Barbie" actress Perlman
  5. 5"The Song Is Over" farewell tour group of 2025, with "the"

The answer to “Chess opener” in the The Washington Post Mini crossword is WHITE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 8, 2026 at 5-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Chess opener” answer

WHITE (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's WHITE.

What does WHITE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of WHITE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • of the colour of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black
  • belonging to or denoting a human group having light-coloured skin (chiefly used of peoples of European extraction)
  • counter-revolutionary or reactionary

When else has “Chess opener” appeared?

The Washington Post Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 8, 2026 (most recent) → WHITE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Chess opener”?

The answer is WHITE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 8, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Chess opener”?

5 letters: WHITE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 8, 2026, at 5-Across.

Can “Chess opener” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's WaPo Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the WaPo Mini answers page.

The Washington Post Mini Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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