battle of wits; contest of wits
A competition or game where intelligence, cleverness, or strategic thinking determines the winner.
Their debate is like a battle of wits.
The children had a contest of wits with riddles.
頭脳戦 emphasizes a strategic or intellectual battle, often in a more serious or competitive context, while 知恵比べ can be lighter and more playful.
知恵 means 'wisdom' or 'intelligence' itself, whereas 知恵比べ refers to the act of competing using that intelligence.
Standard kanji spelling.
Variant using 競; less common.
Compound of 知恵 (chie, 'wisdom') and 比べ (kurabe, 'comparison, contest').