Is it better to play White or Black?

Contrary to popular belief, Chess is not a fair game. Why? White moves first, and therefore White has the advantage at the beginning of the game. Specifically, White is a tempo ahead. Black's main task in the opening stages of the game is to achieve equality. White, to maintain this temporal advantage, should play strong and aggressive moves. It is through weak play and outright blunders by White that Black is able to wrest the initiative from him, and turn the game around to Black's advantage. This is the basic opening strategy in Chess. In important matches, players plan to draw as Black and win as White.
Of course, there is the matter of an opening repertoire. Many titled players are known to be experts on a particular variation of a certain opening. Kasparov vis-a-vis the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense ( as Black ) is an example. Does the player with the White pieces have an advantage over Kasparov in this type of opening? In Theory, Yes but practically No because of Kasparov's encyclopedic knowledge of that particular opening. So, if everything is presumed to be equal, playing with the White pieces is better than playing with the Black pieces only because of that one tempo in the opening.

Can I make repeated draw offers?

Repeated draw offers can be annoying especially if the position is still unclear. I once summoned the Tournament Director to my table to complain, and he strongly warned my opponent from continuing this distraction. Furthermore, Your opponent might want to earn a full point, and so a drawn game is simply not in his plans. Very often, a half a point spells the difference between a trophy/prize money, or going home empty-handed. Be reasonable in your offer. Make sure that the position has strong drawing possibilities when you make an offer.

Is there a correct way to set up the chessboard?

Yes, there is a correct way. A lot of people do not realize that the chessboard must be set up in a way that the lower left hand corner should be a dark square. This square is known as the A1 square in the algebraic notation in Chess. Pick up a chessbook and look at all the positions displayed there. The A1 square is always a dark square. It is part of the rules of Chess. In competition, if you discover that the orientation of the board is wrong, summon the Tournament Director and ask him to make a judgement on the matter. The TD can annul the game and ask the players to start over.

Who is the greatest player of all time?

There is no correct answer to this question. It is all a matter of personal preference or idolatry. There are so many variables that come into play that a fair comparison is not possible. For example, today's top players benefit from computer programs that analyse a position tirelessly and with flawless tactical ability. These programs also offer databases that run into the hundreds of thousands of saved games. In the days of Capablanca and Alekhine, this was non-existant. Chess theory before and after 1950 seem like night and day, especially in opening theory. Can Kasparov beat all the previous world champions? He probably could, but he brings with him the fruits of generations-old chess theory that the others couldn't benefit from.
I'd say, decide who your favorite player is and study his/her games. You'd probably benefit more from carefully analysing the games, than by comparing great players of all time.

What is the standard time control for tournament games?

Nowadays, big-money tournaments stick with 2 hours for 40 moves, and 1 hour after that of "sudden death" per player. This means the maximum amount of time to play your game is 6 hours. In serious competition, it is often that a titled player uses up the 2 hours and heads for sudden death. With the usual 2 rounds per day, serious competitors need to be in good physical shape and stamina to play well in a 4/5-day tournament.

Should I quit my studies and concentrate on Chess full-time?

Absolutely NOT! Your education is more important than chasing a title. I know many IMs and GMs, and most of them struggle financially. Let's face it. There is no money in professional Chess. You cant live on prize money alone, and you can't live on giving lessons. You might end up hustling money from easy prey at the local chess club. Anybody who tells you to concentrate on Chess over your studies better be around in the future to help you with the bills because most likely you won't be another Kasparov. Get your degree, find a nice-paying job, and enjoy Chess on the side.

Are male players inherently better than female ones?

No. It's the same human brain. The truth is that chess competition between females, and between females and men, have not been as active as they are now. If it were, we would be seeing a lot more female grandmasters today. Personally, I feel that abolishing gender chess ( women's and men's ) is a good idea. Let's just have an open and gender-free competition.

Castling, what is the correct way?

One must remember that castling is a king move, and not a rook move. Therefore, you must pick up the king first, move it 2 squares and then swing the rook over. If you move the rook first, your opponent can object and insist that you intended to make a rook move, that you touched the rook first and not the king (touch-move rule), that you did not intend to castle your king. Guess what? The Tournament Director will agree with him, and you will end up uncastled on that side at least. It's in the rules.

Where does one place the chess clock?

There is no correct side of the chessboard where the clock should stand. It is really the choice of the player with the Black pieces. It's his decision, unless the TD overrules him.

What pieces, or combination of pieces, make up mating material?

(a) You can mate with a King and a major piece like a rook or a queen against a lone king.
(b) You can not mate with a king and one minor piece like a bishop or a knight against a lone king.
(c) You can mate with a king and two bishops.
(d) You can mate with a king and bishop and a knight (the most challenging).
(e) You can't FORCE a mate with a king and two knights. A mate involving two knights will require the cooperation of the opponent's lone king while in the former cases you can actually force a mate with correct play.

What are the openings all about?

The openings are sequences of moves that aim for control of the center, specifically the d4,d5,e4,e5 squares. Whoever controls the center, controls the wings as well. Whoever controls the center, enjoys greater mobility. The player who has won control of the center in the opening stages of the game enjoys a tremendous advantage over his opponent. The center is so important that the openings/defenses are designed to dominate it, or at least to be on equal footing with your opponent. When in doubt in the opening, choose a move that increases your influence in the center.

What about Computers versus Humans?

Let us not forget that there is a prurient interest in human beings to see another one play chess so very well. This fascination with chess-playing computers, for me at least, runs parallel with my fascination or admiration for the world champion. One does not supplant the other. To reason by analogy, should we be alarmed that a scientific calculator, available at any of the convenience stores, can work mathematical calculations faster and more accurately than a human being? In other words, no matter how good a computer becomes at playing chess, I will still be in awe of the best human chessplayer in the world, and it will not diminish my interest in the game nor will it mean that human chess-playing has become pointless.