gambit

American  

[gam-bit] / ˈgæm bɪt /

noun

1. Chess. an opening in which a player seeks to obtain some advantage by sacrificing a pawn or piece.

2. any maneuver by which one seeks to gain an advantage.

   Synonyms:

   ruse, scheme, stratagem, ploy

3. a remark made to open or redirect a conversation.

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gambit British  

/ ˈɡæmbɪt /

noun

1. chess an opening move in which a chessman, usually a pawn, is sacrificed to secure an advantageous position

2. an opening comment, manoeuvre, etc, intended to secure an advantage or promote a point of view

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Etymology

Origin of gambit

1650–60; < French < Spanish gambito or Italian gambetto (akin to Old French gambet, jambet ), equivalent to gamb ( a ) leg + -etta -et

Explanation

A gambit is a strategic move, often in chess but also in politics or business, where a player sacrifices something up front for future gain. The noun gambit comes from an Italian word, gambetto, which means “tripping up.” When you make an opening move, offer something, or start a conversation with something that seems self-sacrificing but is really a ploy for greater advantage in the long run, that's a gambit. In chess, a gambit is when you sacrifice a pawn early for better positioning. When you offer to drive the morning carpool, that might be a gambit to get the afternoon shift off.

Example Sentences

Since Haas became CEO in 2022, Arm has been aggressively pursuing revenue growth through price hikes and bundling, and the latest gambit is another move to keep that momentum going.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

An obvious opening gambit: You need an attorney who specializes in elder financial abuse rather than estate planning.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

His gambit is that oil importers will pay sky-high rates to an owner willing to get crude out of the war zone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The gambit was meant to speed the agency’s approval should the Netflix deal crumble.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

And certainly it was hard to think of a more reckless gambit than throwing C.P. and Ann together.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson