What is "point in line", and what is a beat attack?
A · Advanced · The weapons · 1 of 3Point in line is a position: the arm held straight with the point threatening the opponent's target. A fencer in line has priority, and an attacker must first knock that blade aside. A beat is a sharp knock on the opponent's blade to clear the way. It keeps priority only if it lands on the weaker, outer part of their blade.
How it works
- The position: "the fencer's sword arm is kept straight and the point of his weapon continually threatens his opponent's valid target".
- Its effect: an attacker who starts when the opponent is in line "must, first, deflect the opponent's blade".
- Not a brush: "a mere contact of the blades is not considered as sufficient to deflect the opponent's blade".
- Missing the blade: if the attacker tries to find the blade and fails, "the right of attack passes to the opponent". The evasion is called a dérobement.
- Losing the line: a fencer in line whose blade has been deflected must then parry, not replace the point.
- Not at the start: at foil and sabre a fencer may not come on guard in line.
- A beat on the foible: on "the two-thirds of the blade furthest from the guard", the attack keeps its priority.
- A beat on the forte: on "the one-third of the blade nearest the guard", the attack is badly executed and the opponent gets the right to an immediate riposte.
- Crossing steps: continuous steps forward with the legs crossing are a preparation, and any simple attack into them has priority.
The glossary has the point in line entry, the attack by beating entry, the dérobement, the right of way entry and the parry.
Tricky cases
A fencer stands with a straight arm and the opponent runs on to the point while attacking. Who scores?
The fencer in line, if the attacker did not first deflect the blade.
The attacker taps the blade in line lightly and carries on. Is that enough?
No. A mere contact of the blades is not sufficient to deflect it.
The fencer in line dips the point under the attacker's beat and the beat misses. Who has priority?
The fencer in line. The attacker failed to find the blade, and the right of attack passes to the opponent.
A fencer beats the opponent's blade close to the guard and lunges. Both hit. Who scores?
The opponent, if they riposte immediately. A beat on the forte is a badly executed attack and gives the right to riposte.
Why the rule exists
A straight arm with the point aimed at the chest is a threat the other fencer would run on to, so it earns priority without moving. The beat rules follow from how a blade works: a knock near the tip moves the blade, and a knock near the guard does not and is treated as having been parried.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Foil | Point in line and beat rules as above | FIE t.84; FIE t.85 |
| Sabre | The same rules | FIE t.102; FIE t.104 |
| Épée | No priority, so neither rule decides a hit | FIE t.92 |
From the rule book
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, Technical Rules (August 2026), articles t.15, t.22.13, t.84, t.85, t.89, t.102, t.104 and t.106. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FIE Technical Rules (PDF).