gambit

Plural: gambits

Noun

• A strategic move, often involving a sacrifice, to gain advantage.
• an opening remark intended to secure an advantage for the speaker
• a maneuver in a game or conversation
• a chess move early in the game in which the player sacrifices minor pieces in order to obtain an advantageous position
• An opening in chess in which a minor piece or a pawn is sacrificed to gain an advantage.
• Any ploy or stratagem.
• A remark intended to open a conversation.

Verb

• To sacrifice (a pawn or minor piece) to gain an advantage.

Examples

• Her clever gambit gave her an advantage.
• Her opening GAMBIT in Scrabble, sacrificing a good tile, proved effective later on.
• Their promise to lower taxes is clearly an election-year gambit.

Synonyms

ploy, stratagem