what is a gambit in chess

A gambit in chess is an opening in which a player sacrifices material, usually a pawn, with the aim of achieving a subsequent positional advantage. The sacrifice is made during the opening to seek some kind of compensation. Gambits are most commonly played by White, but a gambit employed by Black may also be named a gambit. Some well-known examples of a gambit are the Kings Gambit and the Queen's Gambit. The King's Gambit is an unsound opening for White that starts after 1.e4 e5 2.f4, while the Queen's Gambit is one of the most sound gambits in chess, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4. The Latvian Gambit and Englund Gambit are examples of gambits employed by Black. Gambits are used to gain a lead in development, open lines, or weaken the opponent's position.