brilliant move; spectacular play
Primarily used in board games such as shogi, chess, and go for a clever or decisive move. Can also be used metaphorically for a brilliant strategic move in other contexts.
彼は終盤で妙手を指して逆転した。
He made a brilliant move in the endgame and turned the tables.
That move was truly a stroke of genius.
Refers to a person with exceptional skill, especially in arts, crafts, or games. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
彼は書道の妙手として知られている。
He is known as a master of calligraphy.
The player made a brilliant move here.
He is known as a master of cooking.
A brilliant move suddenly appeared in the endgame, surprising the spectators.
好手 describes a good, solid move in a board game, whereas 妙手 specifically implies a brilliant or unexpected move that surprises opponents.
悪手 is a bad or losing move in shogi/go, the direct opposite of 妙手's brilliant move.
妙技 refers to a skillful feat or performance in general (e.g. sports, acrobatics), while 妙手 is specifically a brilliant move in a game like shogi or go, or a person with such skill.
Used for moves in games like go or shogi.
Compound of 妙 (myō, 'exquisite, strange, ingenious') and 手 (shu, 'hand, move, person'). The game sense derives from the idea of an ingenious hand/move; the expert sense extends the idea of skillful hands to a person.