what is gambit?

[Lida]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #559 "English Slang Idioms (197)", question 1

"Telling the customer that we needed more information from the doctor and that he needed to get the information in order to process his claim was a dirty .......... You know that it will take awhile for the customer to get the information and send it in and by that time, it will be too late to process the claim," Jack, the lead insurance representative, told Jacky.

(a) maneuver
(b) act
(c) gambit
(d) trick

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #559 "English Slang Idioms (197)", answer 1

"Telling the customer that we needed more information from the doctor and that he needed to get the information in order to process his claim was a dirty trick. You know that it will take awhile for the customer to get the information and send it in and by that time, it will be too late to process the claim," Jack, the lead insurance representative, told Jacky.

Correct answer: (d) trick
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what is gambit?

Lida

[Alan]

Hi,

'Gambit' to my mind is a ploy or method of how to open a game of chess. It is generally used as an 'opening gambit' and suggests a way of starting a process aimed at reaching a favourable outcome in a contest. It could be used in a political situation when different political parties or different countries set about negotiations that will lead to a satisfactory conclusion.

Alan
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[Ralf]

Or you have a conversation gambit; some game-like exercise designed to make people talk or involve in an exchange of ideas.
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[MrPedantic]

A "gambit" involves the deliberate sacrifice of a piece or pawn in chess, often (but not always) in the opening, to secure a positional advantage.

In the test question, Jacky has not accepted a temporary disadvantage in the hope of future advantage; so his form of deception can't be called a "gambit".

Best wishes,

MrP