counterplay vs take up the cudgels

counterplay

verb
  • To make a counterplay; to play in response. 

  • To counter; to contrast or contradict. 

noun
  • A subversive style of gameplay in which a player attempts to overturn the usual rules and conventions of the game. 

  • A game move made as a response. 

  • A counterattack in a different part of the board. 

take up the cudgels

verb
  • to make a defence for someone or something; to intercede supportively. 

  • To engage in a contest. 

How often have the words counterplay and take up the cudgels occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )