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

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

I know that sounds like a desperate postmodern gambit, but it pays hilarious and chilling dividends by turning episodes previously recounted only in disputed legal proceedings into confrontational Brechtian theater.

From Salon

But Schulman said inventing a new scenario wasn’t so much about protecting their gambit as it was about inventing something new — and raising the stakes.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From MarketWatch

The gambit of “Slanted” hinges on the audience accepting that Joan is still the same person when Chen hands her off to Grace midway through the film.

From Los Angeles Times