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Recap: initiative over material
Time can be worth a pawn.
A gambit is a bet that fast development and the initiative outweigh a pawn. As the gambiteer, only make the bet when you can show concrete activity — otherwise you're just a pawn down. As the defender, don't cling to the extra pawn: develop, and hand it back when that snuffs out the attack.
The only way to feel the initiative is to play sharp positions. Try a gambit (from either side) in a real game.
- Gambit = a pawn for development, open lines, and the initiative.
- Gambiteer: show real activity, or it's just a lost pawn.
- Defender: develop and give the pawn back to kill the attack.