Initiative in chess refers to the control of the game's tempo and direction. It is the ability of a player to dictate the pace and direction of play and force their opponent to react. A player with the initiative is able to put pressure on their opponent and make them play passively, leading to potential mistakes. Having the initiative can be a significant advantage in a chess game and can lead to a tactical or positional advantage. In this video, GM Ramesh takes up the key concepts through an illustrative game played by former world champion Gary Kasparov in 1980.