opening gambit

This is the opening gambit and not the end game.

He decided that the best opening gambit was simply to tell them his name.

But the are you new in town question was a standard opening gambit.

But I believe this is just an opening gambit in a much larger game.

If the change of rooms had been the opening gambit, so much the better.

The opening gambit was on its way, but it would not be the main purpose of the meeting.

"This is a first step, an opening gambit to get a handle on the problem."

It was an opening gambit not meant to defeat anyone.

The opening gambit to politely asking him to move on?

But then his remark had simply been in the nature of an opening gambit, anyway.

Earthquake talk has become the common opening gambit in conversations.

An opening gambit might be "I can no longer afford our romance."

But he had captured a queen on his opening gambit, and it just might be enough.

"I suspect this may be an opening gambit to run for my job," the Mayor said.

His own opening gambit made it impossible to take offence.

One would follow the other, each in turn being asked the blunt question he had so carefully considered as his opening gambit.

He sensed an opening gambit and was determined not to be enlisted.

I groped desperately for an opening gambit but came up with nothing.

"Oh, really," said Shelby as she made an opening gambit move on the chess set.

Spartacus had played its first move in response to the scientists' opening gambit.

"Such a very good man," came the opening gambit.

A typical opening gambit is, "Can I show you something?"

I believe that at the moment we are just seeing the opening gambits in this jockeying for influence.

I have to politely disagree with your opening gambit.

"Let her speak first - you don't need to worry about an opening gambit.