Gambit is the strategy of deliberately sacrificing a pawn (sometimes a piece) in the opening to gain development tempo or a positional advantage.

Popular Gambits

• King's Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 - one of the oldest gambits
• Queen's Gambit: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 - one of the most popular openings
• Evans Gambit: a pawn sacrifice with 4.b4 after the Italian Opening

A gambit can be accepted or declined. If it is accepted, the side making the sacrifice gains a development advantage.