Priority (fencing)

Priority or right of way is the decision criterion used in foil and sabre fencing to determine which fencer receives the point if both fencers land a valid hit at the same time. In épée fencing, if both fencers land valid hits at the same time, they each receive a point. Because of this foil and sabre are considered conventional weapons.

Generally, priority is determined by first considering which fencer attacked first. In order to initiate an attack a fencer must threaten the target area of their opponent with the point of the foil while their arm is extending. When performing a compound attack the fencer must not withdraw the arm by bending the elbow.

These stipulations mean that, in the event of both fencers hitting with the tip, the hit made by a fencer that initiates an attack will have priority if:

The hit made by the defender will have priority if:

...
Wikipedia