countermaneuver

Countermaneuver is a planned reaction to an opponent's maneuver, in which an actor responds by executing a maneuver that counters, negates, or exploits the opponent's action. The aim is to restore initiative, gain a positional advantage, or disrupt the opponent's plan.

Originating in maneuver warfare, the term has since been applied in sports, business strategy, and game theory to describe dynamic responses that shift momentum rather than simply opposing a single action.

Effective countermaneuvers depend on accurate assessment of tempo, geography, and available forces. They often combine timing, mobility, deception, and risk management. They can be defensive, absorbing pressure and pivoting, or offensive, aiming to breach the opponent's weak point.

In practice, countermaneuvers appear across domains. In military context, they may involve feints or simulated movements designed to draw defenders and reveal weaknesses, followed by a decisive action on an exposed flank. In sport, defenders reposition to negate an attacker’s approach. In business, firms respond to a rival's move with counterpricing, product differentiation, or strategic partnerships.

Related concepts include counterattack, feint, pivot, and maneuver warfare.