Fencing rules by weapon: target areas, right of way and épée double hits

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Fencing rules look complicated because each weapon has its own. Once you understand three ideas, what counts as target, how hits are registered, and whether right of way applies, most of what happens on the piste makes sense. This guide is a plain summary based on the international rules of the FIE (the international fencing federation). National and club competitions follow them closely but sometimes adapt details, and the rules are revised from time to time, so check the current rule book for anything important.

How a bout is run

Fencers start on their en garde lines, the referee says "en garde", "ready" ("prêts") and "fence" ("allez"), and stops the action with "halt" after a hit or an incident.

In pools, the first round at most competitions, a bout is to 5 hits or 3 minutes of fencing time.
In direct elimination, a bout is to 15 hits, fenced in periods of three minutes with a one-minute break between them. Sabre has its own break arrangement because its bouts are so quick.

Hits are recorded electrically: the weapon, the jacket or lamé, and the scoring box are wired together, and lights show who hit.

Foil

Target: the torso, front and back, from the shoulders to the groin. Arms, legs, head and neck are not target. A conductive vest called a lamé covers the valid area.
Hits are made with the point only.
A coloured light means a valid hit; a white light means an off-target hit. An off-target hit does not score, but it stops the action. So if you hit off-target first and your opponent hits on target after, your opponent's hit does not count either.
Right of way applies.

Sabre

Target: the body above the waist, including the arms and the mask, but not the hands.
Hits can be made with the point, the edge or the back edge.
Off-target hits are not shown and do not stop the action.
Right of way applies.
Footwork is restricted: crossing the back foot in front of the front foot during an attack is not allowed, which is why sabre fencers attack with lunges and fast advances rather than running steps.

Épée

Target: the whole body, head to toe, including the mask and the hand.
Hits are made with the point only, and must arrive with enough force to register.
There is no right of way. Whoever hits first scores.
Double hits: if both fencers hit within a very short window of each other (a fraction of a second, measured by the box), both score a point. This changes the tactics completely: a double hit is fine when you are ahead, and dangerous when you are behind.

Right of way explained

In foil and sabre, if both fencers hit at roughly the same time, the referee decides who had priority. The basic principles:

The fencer who starts a correct attack first, by extending the arm and threatening the target, has right of way.
If the defender parries the attack (blocks it with the blade), right of way passes to the defender, whose return hit is called a riposte.
If an attack misses or falls short, the opponent can take over with their own attack or counter.
A counter-attack into an attack usually loses, unless it hits clearly before the attack starts its final movement.

When both lights show, the referee describes the phrase with hand signals and awards the hit, or no hit if the actions were truly simultaneous. Learning to "see" right of way takes time, and watching refereed bouts at your club is the best teacher.

Other rules beginners meet early

Leaving the piste: stepping off the side halts the bout and costs distance; going off the back end with both feet gives a hit to the opponent.
Cards: yellow, red and black cards for faults such as turning your back, covering target, or dangerous behaviour.
Kit checks: weapons and clothing must meet safety standards before you fence.

What rule confused you the first time you fenced or watched a bout? Ask in the comments, and share how your club teaches right of way.