"One step behind" or "one move too late"

Question

I heard this phrase that sounds like 「いいえ、一手のさで、私どもの勝ちです。」, which in the context should mean one is one step behind, or one move too late, or being overtaken by someone else in doing something. But I cannot catch what the last part (after の）means. I don't actually know for sure if the first two is 一手, but it looks to me the only possible fit. After の it might have been さて instead of さで, but I cannot search online with just this.

I am fairly sure this is not slang/colloquial, so I doubt it's a modification that does not appear in dictionary. What is the exact phrase, and if I heard wrongly what is the closest to this?

Answer 1

「一手{いって}のさで、私どもの勝{か}ちです。」

It seems your listening comprehension is good. You caught every single word at least.

It is just that the 「さ」 is 「差{さ}」 meaning "difference".

The word 「さて」 is not used here.

「一手の差で」, therefore, means "by the difference of a single move".

"It is our victory by the difference of a single move."

No part of the sentence is indeed either colloquial or slangy.