winning move
The clinching action
A winning move is an action that secures victory or decisively shifts advantage to one side.
In games like chess, it's the move that guarantees checkmate or forces resignation.
The phrase extends beyond games to any strategic decision that clinches success: Hiring her away from the competition was a winning move.
Sometimes used sarcastically for obvious blunders: Oh yeah, great winning move there.
- checkmateInescapable capture position
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- game changerDecisive transformative factor
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
strategy · decisive · masterstroke · knockout · clincher · endgame · final stroke · outmaneuver · trump · ace · breakthrough · home run · coup · finish · slam dunk · power play · strike · go for broke
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- Winning Movesmasterstroke, coup, checkmate, clutch play, decisive action
- chess endgamesking and queen, zugzwang, opposition, triangulation, fortress