The first row
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لَاسْتَهَمُوا
Law ya'lamu-n-nasu ma fi-n-nida'i wa-s-saffi-l-awwal, thumma lam yajidu illa an yastahimu alayhi la-stahamu.
"If the people knew what reward is in the call to prayer and the first row, and they could only obtain it by drawing lots, they would draw lots."
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah. Sahih al-Bukhari 615, Sahih Muslim 437
A short reflection
Reserved seating at the front of the masjid. Most often empty. Walk a little earlier next prayer, take the row no one is fighting for.