Initiative
先手 · xiān shǒu · first hand
Having the move that forces the opponent to react; in xiangqi it also names Red's advantage of moving first.
先手 means both the side who moves first and the state of dictating play. Its opposite, 后手, is the side answering. Xiangqi players talk about the initiative constantly, because in a game with this much firepower the player making threats is usually the player deciding what happens.
It is not the same as being better. You can hold the initiative and still be worse, and giving it up deliberately to reach a healthier structure is a real strategic choice.
Watch for the moment it changes hands. Attacks in xiangqi tend to run out suddenly rather than fade, and the player who notices first, and switches to their own plan a move earlier, is usually the one who wins the game.
In practice
If you are on the back foot, look for the exchange that ends the pressure. Trades are the defender's best friend.
Related terms
- Opening开局The first phase of the game, where both sides develop pieces, choose a structure and fight for the open files.
- Middlegame中局The phase after development, where plans, attacks and piece exchanges decide the character of the game.
- Tempo一步棋A single move considered as a unit of time; gaining a tempo means achieving something while forcing the opponent to answer.
- Chariot车 / 車The strongest piece in xiangqi, moving any distance along a rank or file exactly like a rook, and the piece that decides most games.