One of the most common questions from organizers: "Why did player X get white three times in a row?"

How color allocation works in FIDE Dutch:

The pairing engine tries to satisfy three goals, in this order of priority:

1. Correct pairing — Players in the same score group should play each other
2. Color preference — Each player should alternate colors as much as possible
3. Color balance — The difference between white and black games should never exceed 2

Sometimes, satisfying rule 1 (correct pairing) means breaking rule 2 (alternation). This is normal and expected — pairing integrity is more important than color balance.

What "due color" means:

A player is "due white" if they played black in the previous round, and vice versa. The system tries to give each player their due color, but it's not always possible.

When color imbalances happen:

1. Odd number of players in a score group
2. Limited pairing options (already played all other candidates)
3. Bye in a previous round (no color assigned)

What to tell players:

If a player complains about color allocation, you can explain that the FIDE Dutch system always prioritizes fair pairings over color balance. A color imbalance of +2 is within normal limits and allowed by FIDE regulations.