gambit

/ˈɡæmbɪt/
noun
  1. An action or remark intended to gain an advantage in a situation, often by taking a risk.
    • Starting the meeting with a joke was a risky gambit, but it worked.
    • His offer to help was a clever gambit to get closer to the decision-makers.
    • The company's price cut was a gambit to attract customers from its rivals.
  2. A chess opening in which a player sacrifices a piece, usually a pawn, to gain a positional advantage.
    • Many beginners struggle to defend against the King's Gambit.
    • She studied several gambit variations to improve her chess strategy.
    • He opened the game with the Queen's Gambit, sacrificing a pawn for better control of the center.