History Main / BatmanGambit

* BatmanGambit/WebComics

In short, if there is ''any'' reasonable action the pawns could take that would ruin the entire scheme, then it's a Batman Gambit. Because of this, a truly cunning planner will bluff their pawns into believing they have ''no options'' in the first place, and the pawns' best hope may be to realize that they have an opportunity to TakeAThirdOption.

* [[BatmanGambit/{{Batman}} Batman Gambits Involving Batman]]

* BatmanGambit/BatmanGambitsInvolvingBatman

See also ManipulativeBastard, for the character most likely to attempt/pull these off; UnwittingPawn, for the people who unwittingly help the Gambit along, and SpannerInTheWorks[=/=]UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom, for the people who [[DidntSeeThatComing unintentionally send it spinning into disaster]]. Also see EvilCannotComprehendGood for a common reason why villainous attempts fail.

* [[BatmanGambit/AnimatedFilms Films – Animation]]
* [[BatmanGambit/LiveActionFilms Films – Live-Action]]

* BatmanGambit/{{Theater}}

In short, if there is ''any'' reasonable action the pawns could take that would ruin the entire scheme, then it's a Batman Gambit. Because of this, a truly cunning planner will bluff their pawns into believing they have ''no options'' in the first place.

-->-- ''Series/{{Leverage}}'', "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK0BXucd10A The Second David Job]]"

A complicated [[ThePlan plan]] that revolves entirely around people doing exactly what you'd ''expect'' them to do. This trope relies heavily on FlawExploitation manipulating, although it can work with virtues instead of "flaws" just as easily. Sometimes the flaw is that the villains are so predictable that they'll [[VillainBall take the first chance they have]] [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat to do something mean and underhanded]]. Other times, the flaw is that the heroes are [[ChronicHeroSyndrome so heroic]] [[HeroBall that they'll act for the greater good]] [[DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp without even thinking about it]]. A particularly GenreSavvy person will recognize the fact that [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin heroes always win]]—and design a plan [[NiceJobBreakingItHero based on the assumption that they will succeed]].

'''Nate''': Mmm, yeah, [[SarcasmMode that's a stretch.]]

Contrast with the MacGuffinDeliveryService, and the failed attempt, SpringtimeForHitler. Also see IndyPloy for the lack of a plan. A gambit that relies on the victim knowing he's being "played" but not knowing ''how'' is a KansasCityShuffle. If things do go wrong, but the person keeps adjusting things so that Plan A works anyway, he's playing XanatosSpeedChess. TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat is a subtrope.

* [[BatmanGambit/AnimatedFilms Films - Animated]]
* [[BatmanGambit/LiveActionFilms Films - Live Action]]
* {{BatmanGambit/Literature}}

* BatmanGambit/NewMedia

* BatmanGambit/{{Podcasts}}
* BatmanGambit/{{Roleplay}}

A complicated [[ThePlan plan]] that revolves entirely around people doing exactly what you'd ''expect'' them to do. This trope relies heavily on FlawExploitation manipulating, although it can work with virtues instead of "flaws" just as easily. Sometimes the flaw is that the villains are so predictable that they'll [[VillainBall take the first chance they have]] [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat to do something mean and underhanded]]. Other times, the flaw is that the heroes are [[ChronicHeroSyndrome so heroic that they'll act for the greater good]] [[DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp without even thinking about it]]. A particularly GenreSavvy person will recognize the fact that [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin heroes always win]]—and design a plan [[NiceJobBreakingItHero based on the assumption that they will succeed]].

The key difference between the XanatosGambit and the Batman Gambit is that while the former is structured so that any reasonable outcome will work to the advantage of the gambit instigator (and is thus "foolproof") the Batman Gambit does have a failure condition. Indeed, this failure condition will often be quite obvious and foreseeable to the audience, who have the benefit of perspective and objectivity: The failure condition in a Batman Gambit relies on someone acting out of character—or at least how the planner perceives their character. Consequently, Batman Gambits are only as successful as their planner is knowledgeable and insightful about those involved.

[[caption-width-right:350:Batman [[NiceJobFixingItVillain got the Joker to save him]] simply by counting on the Joker [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou to be himself]].]]

'''Nate''': Mmm, yeah, that's a stretch.

Not an ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse character. Also not a SlashFic involving [[DCUniverse Batman]] or [[MarvelUniverse Gambit]].

A complicated [[ThePlan plan]] that revolves entirely around people doing exactly what you'd ''expect'' them to do. This trope relies heavily on FlawExploitation manipulating, although it can work with virtues instead of "flaws" just as easily. Sometimes the flaw is that the villains are so predictable that they'll [[VillainBall take the first chance they have]] [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat to do something mean and underhanded]]. Other times, the flaw is that the heroes are [[ChronicHeroSyndrome so heroic that they'll act for the greater good]] [[DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp without even thinking about it]]. A particularly GenreSavvy person will recognize the fact that [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin heroes always win]] -- and design a plan [[NiceJobBreakingItHero based on the assumption that they will succeed]].

The key difference between the XanatosGambit and the Batman Gambit is that while the former is structured so that any reasonable outcome will work to the advantage of the gambit instigator (and is thus "foolproof") the Batman Gambit does have a failure condition. Indeed, this failure condition will often be quite obvious and foreseeable to the audience, who have the benefit of perspective and objectivity: The failure condition in a Batman Gambit relies on someone acting out of character - or at least how the planner perceives their character. Consequently, Batman Gambits are only as successful as their planner is knowledgeable and insightful about those involved.

This is the essence of the Batman Gambit, which is a storytelling device that can be used by any unusually intelligent character, be they good or evil, to achieve what they want by using their own intelligence to make sure that the most probable outcome that is beneficial to them arises.

The key difference between the XanatosGambit and the Batman Gambit is that while the former is structured so that any reasonable outcome will work to the advantage of the gambit instigator (and is thus "foolproof") the Batman Gambit does have a failure condition. Indeed, this failure condition will often be quite obvious and foreseeable to the audience, who have the benefit of perspective and objectivity. The victims of the gambit, however, may not enjoy those luxuries. To say this another way: the failure condition in a Batman Gambit relies on someone acting out of character - or, more accurately, however the planner perceives their character. Consequently, Batman Gambits are only as successful as their planner is knowledgeable and insightful about everyone involved. This is why the trope is named after Batman: as the World's Greatest Detective, he can often analyze and predict his foes' actions to psychic-like accuracy.

The key to making a Batman Gambit work is by carefully guiding and manipulating the motivations of those involved, so that the "obvious" course of action to them is to do what will make the gambit work and it never occurs to them to do things that would ruin the gambit. Because of the presence of this obvious failure mode, anyone who tries to pull off a Batman Gambit and fails will look like a fool.

In short, if there is ''any'' reasonable action the pawns could take that would ruin the entire scheme, then it's a Batman Gambit. Because of this, a truly cunning planner will make it appear to their pawns that they do ''not have'' such options in the first place. This is called a bluff because if the pawns see through the smokescreen then ThePlan will fall apart.

A complicated [[ThePlan plan]] that revolves entirely around people doing exactly what you'd ''expect'' them to do. This trope relies heavily on FlawExploitation manipulating, although it can work with virtues instead of "flaws" just as easily. Sometimes the flaw is that the villains are so predictable that they'll [[VillainBall take the first chance they have]] [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat to do something mean and underhanded]]. Other times, the flaw is that the heroes are [[ChronicHeroSyndrome so heroic that they'll act for the greater good]] [[DudleyDoGoodStopsToHelp without even thinking about it]]. A particularly GenreSavvy person will recognize the fact that [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin heroes always win]] -- and design a plan [[NiceJobBreakingItHero based on the assumption that they will succeed]].

A complicated [[ThePlan plan]] that revolves entirely around people doing exactly what you'd ''expect'' them to do. This trope relies heavily on FlawExploitation manipulating, although it can work with virtues instead of "flaws" just as easily. Sometimes the flaw is that the villains are so predictable that they'll [[VillainBall take the first chance they have]] [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat to do something mean and underhanded]]. Other times, the flaw is that the heroes are [[ChronicHeroSyndrome so heroic that they'll act for the greater good without even thinking about it]]. A particularly GenreSavvy person will recognize the fact that [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin heroes always win]] -- and design a plan [[NiceJobBreakingItHero based on the assumption that they will succeed]].

Not an ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse character. Also not a SlashFic.

Contrast with the MacGuffinDeliveryService, and the failed attempt, SpringtimeForHitler. Also see IndyPloy for the lack of a plan. A gambit that relies on misdirection is a KansasCityShuffle. If things do go wrong, but the person keeps adjusting things so that Plan A works anyway, he's playing XanatosSpeedChess. TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat is a subtrope.

->'''Sam Starfall''': Helix, one day you'll learn that the next best thing to have after a reliable ally is a predictable enemy.
-->-- ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}''

Not an AmalgamUniverse character. Also not a SlashFic.