diff --git a/data_only_viz/action_head_pub.py b/data_only_viz/action_head_pub.py
index 33256fb..147f56c 100644
--- a/data_only_viz/action_head_pub.py
+++ b/data_only_viz/action_head_pub.py
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ class ActionHeadPublisher(threading.Thread):
             ratio_on=float(os.environ.get("PINCH_RATIO_ON", "0.45")),
             ratio_off=float(os.environ.get("PINCH_RATIO_OFF", "0.65")),
             refractory_ms=float(os.environ.get("PINCH_REFRACTORY_MS", "250")),
+            margin=float(os.environ.get("PINCH_MARGIN", "0.20")),
         )
         self._finger_dbg = os.environ.get("FINGER_DEBUG", "0") not in (
             "0", "", "false", "False",
diff --git a/data_only_viz/finger_strike.py b/data_only_viz/finger_strike.py
index 1d41fd1..8f08efb 100644
--- a/data_only_viz/finger_strike.py
+++ b/data_only_viz/finger_strike.py
@@ -149,10 +149,15 @@ class PinchDetector:
     """
 
     def __init__(self, ratio_on: float = 0.45, ratio_off: float = 0.65,
-                 refractory_ms: float = 250.0, history_slots: int = 2) -> None:
+                 refractory_ms: float = 250.0, history_slots: int = 2,
+                 margin: float = 0.20) -> None:
         self.ratio_on = ratio_on
         self.ratio_off = ratio_off
         self.refractory_s = refractory_ms / 1000.0
+        # Only the single nearest fingertip may engage, and only if it is at
+        # least `margin` (in size-normalized units) nearer than the runner-up.
+        # Rejects the adjacent-finger ambiguity when fingers curl together.
+        self.margin = margin
         self._state = [[_PinchState() for _ in range(4)]
                        for _ in range(history_slots)]
 
@@ -169,17 +174,27 @@ class PinchDetector:
             my = _finite(_coord(lm[MIDDLE_MCP], "y", 1), 0.5)
             size = math.hypot(mx - wx, my - wy)
             size = size if size > 1e-4 else 1e-4
-            for i, tip_idx in enumerate(PINCH_TIPS):
+            ratios = []
+            for tip_idx in PINCH_TIPS:
                 fx = _finite(_coord(lm[tip_idx], "x", 0), 0.5)
                 fy = _finite(_coord(lm[tip_idx], "y", 1), 0.5)
-                ratio = math.hypot(fx - tx, fy - ty) / size
+                ratios.append(math.hypot(fx - tx, fy - ty) / size)
+            # closest-wins + margin: pick the single nearest fingertip, and treat
+            # it as a pinch only if it is clearly nearer than the runner-up.
+            order = sorted(range(4), key=lambda j: ratios[j])
+            nearest, runner = order[0], order[1]
+            winner = nearest if (
+                ratios[nearest] < self.ratio_on
+                and (ratios[runner] - ratios[nearest]) >= self.margin
+            ) else -1
+            for i in range(4):
                 st = self._state[slot][i]
                 if st.engaged:
-                    if ratio > self.ratio_off:
+                    # release when this finger opens, or another finger took over.
+                    if i != winner or ratios[i] > self.ratio_off:
                         st.engaged = False
                         events.append(PinchEvent(hand=slot, finger=i + 1, state=0))
-                elif ratio < self.ratio_on and (
-                        t_now - st.last_t) >= self.refractory_s:
+                elif i == winner and (t_now - st.last_t) >= self.refractory_s:
                     st.engaged = True
                     st.last_t = t_now
                     events.append(PinchEvent(hand=slot, finger=i + 1, state=1))
diff --git a/data_only_viz/tests/test_finger_strike.py b/data_only_viz/tests/test_finger_strike.py
index 8169cbb..b6b64b2 100644
--- a/data_only_viz/tests/test_finger_strike.py
+++ b/data_only_viz/tests/test_finger_strike.py
@@ -144,3 +144,37 @@ def test_pinch_hand_disappear_emits_release():
     release = det.step([], 0.2)                       # hand gone
     assert len(engage) == 1 and engage[0].state == 1
     assert len(release) == 1 and release[0].state == 0
+
+
+def _pinch_hand_multi(thumb_xy, tips):
+    """21-kp hand (size 0.3); `tips` maps finger 0..3 (index/middle/ring/pinky)
+    -> (x,y) for that fingertip. Unlisted fingertips are parked far from thumb."""
+    lm = [[0.5, 0.5, 0.0] for _ in range(21)]
+    lm[0] = [0.5, 0.8, 0.0]                       # WRIST
+    lm[9] = [0.5, 0.5, 0.0]                       # MIDDLE_MCP -> size 0.3
+    lm[4] = [thumb_xy[0], thumb_xy[1], 0.0]       # THUMB_TIP
+    far = [(0.9, 0.5), (0.9, 0.6), (0.9, 0.7), (0.9, 0.8)]
+    for i, idx in enumerate((8, 12, 16, 20)):     # PINCH_TIPS
+        x, y = tips.get(i, far[i])
+        lm[idx] = [x, y, 0.0]
+    return lm
+
+
+def test_pinch_closest_finger_wins():
+    # index ratio ~0.067, middle ratio ~0.33 -> margin 0.27 >= 0.20 -> index only.
+    det = PinchDetector(ratio_on=0.45, ratio_off=0.65, refractory_ms=0)
+    det.step([_pinch_hand_multi((0.5, 0.5), {})], 0.0)             # open
+    ev = det.step([_pinch_hand_multi((0.5, 0.5),
+                                     {0: (0.52, 0.5), 1: (0.60, 0.5)})], 0.1)
+    assert len(ev) == 1
+    assert ev[0].finger == 1 and ev[0].state == 1                 # index only
+
+
+def test_pinch_ambiguous_adjacent_fires_nothing():
+    # index ratio ~0.067, middle ratio ~0.10 -> margin 0.033 < 0.20 -> no winner.
+    # (both are below ratio_on, so the OLD per-finger logic would fire both.)
+    det = PinchDetector(ratio_on=0.45, ratio_off=0.65, refractory_ms=0)
+    det.step([_pinch_hand_multi((0.5, 0.5), {})], 0.0)             # open
+    ev = det.step([_pinch_hand_multi((0.5, 0.5),
+                                     {0: (0.52, 0.5), 1: (0.53, 0.5)})], 0.1)
+    assert ev == []