後手
Meanings
losing the initiative; being forestalled; being on the back foot
Describes a situation where one is forced to react rather than act, often contrasted with 先手 (せんて). Common in competitive, business, and strategic contexts.
See also: 先手 (せんて)
We ended up on the back foot in the negotiations.
You can't win with a strategy that always lets the opponent take the initiative.
moving second; person with the second move
Used in turn-based games or competitions to refer to the player or side that moves after the opponent. Often contrasted with 先手.
In shogi, the player moving second is said to be at a disadvantage.
gote; move that does not require an immediate response
Technical term in go and shogi for a move that does not demand an immediate reply, often contrasted with 先手 (sente).
See also: 先手 (せんて)
This move is gote, so the opponent can play elsewhere.
Rare, historical military term for troops positioned at the rear. Modern usage is mostly limited to historical descriptions or set phrases.
See also: 後詰め
In battles of the Warring States period, the rear guard protected the main camp.
Usage patterns
- 〈相手〉に後手を取られるto be put on the back foot by an opponent's move
In the negotiation, we were forestalled by the other side and put on the back foot.
- 〈人〉が後手になるto be the player who moves second
Since I was the second player, I watched my opponent's move first.
- 後手を打つto make a gote move, one that does not demand an immediate response
In this position, playing a gote move is the best strategy.