What Is Second Intention in Saber Fencing?

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Second intention saber fencing is a plan built around your opponent's reaction, not your first light. USA Fencing glossary defines second intention as a tactic in which a fencer executes a convincing, yet false, action in hopes of drawing a true, committed reaction from their opponent (USA Fencing Glossary of Fencing Terms).

Second intention saber fencing is a plan built around your opponent's reaction, not your first light. USA Fencing glossary defines second intention as a tactic in which a fencer executes a convincing, yet false, action in hopes of drawing a true, committed reaction from their opponent (USA Fencing Glossary of Fencing Terms).

That definition is short. On the strip it shows up in how you attack, defend, and steal tempo.

First intention vs second intention

First intention means you mean to score with the action you start. A direct attack to the head that you intend to land is first intention. A clean parry and riposte you plan to finish is also first intention defense.

Second intention means the opening action is bait. You want a specific response. The touch you plan sits one step later.

USA Fencing same glossary defines a feint as a false attack intended to get a defensive reaction, creating the chance for a genuine attack. Second intention is related. The difference is commitment and planning. A feint can be one blade lie inside a compound attack. Second intention is a full phrase you design so the opponent's committed answer becomes the opening.

Why it matters in saber

Saber awards right of way. Both fencers can land. The referee still has to pick whose phrase has priority. That makes committed reactions expensive.

If you attack only to score on the first cut, a sharp defender can parry and riposte. If you attack only to draw that riposte, and you already planned the counter-riposte or the remise, you are fencing second intention.

USA Fencing also defines a stop cut (saber) as a counter-action at the moment of hesitation, feint, or a poorly executed attack. The stop cut must clearly catch tempo, or the referee may give the touch to the attacker (glossary). Second intention often tries to manufacture exactly that kind of false tempo, then punish the stop cut with a prepared parry-riposte or continuation.

Common saber patterns

Attack to draw the parry-riposte

You start a convincing attack. You expect the parry and riposte. Your real touch is the counter-riposte after you take their blade. The first attack has to look real enough that they commit. If it is too soft, they ignore it. If it is too deep, you get hit before your second action starts.

Attack to draw the stop cut

You show a preparation or a slow start. You expect the stop cut into your "mistake." You are already set to parry that cut and riposte, or to close distance so their stop arrives late. This is second intention against a counterattack-heavy opponent.

Remise as a planned second action

USA Fencing glossary does not define remise on that short list, but the club already covers what a remise is: renewing the attack after a miss or a parry without recovering fully. Some second-intention phrases use a remise or redouble when the opponent's parry opens a new line. The key is planning. An accidental continuation after a miss is not the same as a prepared second action.

Beat to open a line, then finish elsewhere

A beat attack can be first intention if the beat and cut are meant to score now. It becomes second intention when the beat exists to force a reaction you have already chosen how to punish.

How referees see it

Second intention is not a separate rule. Touches still follow the scoring and right-of-way conventions in the USA Fencing / FIE technical rules. The referee calls the materiality of the lights and the priority of the phrase.

If your first action never threatens, the referee may treat the opponent's attack or stop as having priority. If your second action arrives after you lost right of way and both lights are on, you lose the touch. Second intention only works when the phrase you create is clear enough for the box and the referee.

For how lights and signals look from the stands, see How to Watch a Saber Fencing Bout.

Drills that build the idea

Keep drills simple. One idea per pass.

  1. Parry-riposte as the planned second action. Partner A attacks to a known line. Partner B parries and ripostes. Then reverse roles with A planning the counter-riposte from the start.
  2. Stop-cut trap. Partner A shows a slow advance with a delayed blade. Partner B is coached to stop-cut. Partner A's job is the prepared parry-riposte, not the first-light attack.
  3. One-light remise. After a light parry, renew in a new line without recovering. Film the phrase. Check whether the remise lands before the riposte.

None of these need invented stats. They need clean tempo and honest distance on a 14 m strip.

How it fits the rest of your game

Second intention sits with other saber building blocks:

Rule and points updates for national events land on our USA Fencing News hub and the tournament schedule.

Train second intention in Bethesda

Saber Nation is a saber-primary club at 4701 Sangamore Rd, Suite LL2, Bethesda, MD. Private lessons are a clean place to film these phrases and correct distance. Book a private lesson or contact the club.

Sources: USA Fencing Glossary of Fencing Terms (definitions of second intention, feint, stop cut / stop hit, attack, parry, riposte, beat).