In later stages, chess games are about skill. In the opening, they’re about preparation.
There are x possible openings as white.
Playing x move as white on move 1 loses in x% of games on record.
Playing x move wins % of the time.
Preparation has a theoretical spread of x for a beginner.
As you get better, your preparation goes moves deeper.
The deeper your preparation the better the odds of success.
The game begins before you play it.