counterplay

noun

coun·​ter·​play ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌplā 

variants or counter-play

plural counterplays or counter-plays

: opposing or contrasting play or an instance of this: such as

a

: a countering move or maneuver in a game or competition

Managing your way through these middle rounds will require you to probably play very tight and conservative poker, whereby you will focus more on the quality of your own hands and the playing zones of your opponents rather than on positional requirements or any possible moves or counterplays that might appear to be advantageous.

—Victor H. Royer

also : play (see play entry 1 sense 1c) involving the use of counterplays

You're considering your twenty-fourth move of the game. You're thinking of advancing a pawn of your own, to try to get some counterplay going …

—Robert R. Desjarlais

b

: interaction or contrast between opposing or dissimilar elements

As always, the main tension that drives these songs is the counterplay of Paul Desmond's lyrical alto sax and Brubeck's dynamic, off-kilter piano.

—Matthew Fiander

Examples of counterplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This change will help mitigate that feeling without significantly reducing counterplay. —Kris Holt, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above