In short: When you are the one making threats and your opponent has to answer. The player with the initiative decides what the game is about.
The player with the initiative is making threats, and the opponent has to answer. While the opponent defends, the player with the initiative improves their position and creates the next threat. It is like getting to decide what the game is about.
How to take the initiative
- Develop quickly. The player who gets the pieces out first often gets the initiative. Read about development.
- Gain tempo. A move that develops a piece and threatens something at the same time forces the opponent to answer. Read about tempo.
- Pay for it. In a gambit you give up a pawn to get quicker development and the initiative.
A classic example
In the Opera Game of 1858, Paul Morphy brings out piece after piece, while his opponents move the queen and trade early. After nine moves it looks like this.
Black never catches up. When the lines open, only White's pieces are in the game. See the whole game: The Opera Game.
Use it or lose it
White has the initiative from the start, because White moves first, but it can be lost through needless moves. The initiative is a temporary advantage. The player who has it should use it before the opponent gets the pieces out, or it passes to the other side. It often pays to trade the initiative for something that lasts longer, such as an extra pawn or a weakness in the opponent's camp. Read about advantage.
Frequently asked questions
Does White have the initiative from the start?
Yes. White moves first and has the initiative at the start of the game. But it can be lost, for example through needless moves in the opening.
Is the initiative the same as an advantage?
Not quite. The initiative is a temporary advantage. If it isn't used, it passes to the opponent or fizzles out.
Updated November 14, 2026