Other Definitions
gambit (dict)
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GambitA gambit is a chess opening, where something is sacrificed in order to achieve a better position. Usually, the piece sacrificed is a pawn, but there are also gambits sacrificing a Bishop or Knight, like the Muzio gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0) and Cochrane gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7). Usually, the player who sacrifices something gains time or active piece play. A good example is the Middle or Danish gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2. White has two pawns less, but his bishops are placed very well, looking to the opponents kingside. A very dubious gambit is the so called Halloween Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Nxe5?! Nxe5 5.d4. Of course, one is not obliged to accept a gambit; often, one can decline without a problem. One can also accept a gambit with the intention of returning the material later for a positional advantage, as advocated by Emanuel Lasker. The word gambit was originally applied to chess openings in Spain in 1561 by Ruy Lopez, who was an admirer of Giovanni Gambetto, first chess player to use this kind of subterfuge, in the 12th century. Lopez studied and improved this maneuver during his lifetime, and so the Italian word gained the Spanish form gambito that led to French gambit, which has influenced the English spelling of the word. Broader sense of "opening move meant to gain advantage" is first recorded in Eng. 1855. Some other gambits:
For the fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe, see Gambit (comics). Gambit was also a codename used for the KH-7 and KH-8 reconnaissance satellites. Gambit was also the title of a game show based on the card game blackjack.
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