What is a Chess Gambit?

A word that is used in chess often during study is “chess gambit”. What is a chess gambit? A Chess Gambit is an opening series of chess moves that a player plays where he or she sacrifices a piece in order to get the better position.

How did the word Gambit Originate for Chess?

The word “gambit” came from Ruy Lopez de Segura. It originated from the Italian Expression “dare il gambetto” which means “to put a let forward in order to trip someone.” This makes perfect sense for what gambit represents in the game of chess. The Italian word led to the Spanish word, “gambito” which led to the French word “gambit.”