An opening move in chess where a player sacrifices material to gain an advantage; more broadly, an opening strategy or tactic.
From Italian 'gamba' (leg) via Spanish 'gambito,' originally a wrestling move where you hook an opponent's leg to trip them; the connection comes from the idea of 'tripping up' your opponent.
The most famous gambit in chess is the King's Gambit—players sacrifice a pawn immediately and if the opponent refuses to take it, they have a huge advantage, so it's a mind game as much as a material trade.
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