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4[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batman_tells_his_gambit_6556.jpg]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:350:Franchise/{{Batman}} got [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker the Joker]] to [[NiceJobFixingItVillain save him]] simply by counting on the Joker to [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou be himself]].]]
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7->''"Predictability has always been the sidekick I don't talk about."''
8-->-- '''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''', ''ComicBook/DarkKnightIIITheMasterRace''
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10%%One quote is sufficient. Place others on the quotes subpage.
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14A [[ThePlan plan]] that revolves entirely around people doing exactly what you'd ''expect'' them to do. This trope relies heavily on FlawExploitation manipulating, remembering that "flaws" include "virtues" as well. 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]]. One might recognize the fact that [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin heroes always win]] -- and design a plan [[NiceJobBreakingItHero based on the assumption that they will succeed]].
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16Provided that a character is smart enough and manipulative enough, they can get the people around them to do just about anything. Sometimes this can be accomplished by the power of charisma, but other times it needs to be perpetrated through an elaborate scheme. This scheme takes into account everything that TheChessmaster (as well as the viewer) knows about the characters being manipulated, and uses it against them. The [[UnwittingPawn patsies]] in this scheme only act and respond as their own predictability dictates and all the pieces fall into place.
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18The 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.
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20In 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'' (or [[FalseDichotomy very]] [[MortonsFork few]] options) in the first place, and the pawns' best hope may be to realize that they have an opportunity to TakeAThirdOption.
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22[[TropeNamers Named after]] ComicBook/{{Batman}}, a character known as the World's Greatest Detective, who through careful analysis can often predict his foes' actions to psychic-like accuracy.
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24See 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]]. Can sometimes fail if the victim is TooDumbToFool. Also see EvilCannotComprehendGood for a common reason why villainous attempts fail. If the mark finds out after the fact that they've been Batman Gambitted, then that's an extra punch of HoistByHisOwnPetard, in that they had a hand in a scheme against them.
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26Contrast MacGuffinDeliveryService. A failed attempt sometimes results in 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. SuperTrope to TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat and TheComplianceGame.
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28!!As this trope deals with the outcome of a scheme, unmarked spoilers abound. Beware.
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30----
31!!Example subpages:
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33[[index]]
34* BatmanGambit/AnimeAndManga
35* BatmanGambit/ComicBooks
36** BatmanGambit/TheDCU
37*** BatmanGambit/{{Batman}}
38*** BatmanGambit/{{Superman}}
39** BatmanGambit/MarvelUniverse
40* BatmanGambit/ComicStrips
41* BatmanGambit/FanWorks
42* [[BatmanGambit/AnimatedFilms Film — Animation]]
43* [[BatmanGambit/LiveActionFilms Film — Live-Action]]
44* BatmanGambit/{{Literature}}
45* BatmanGambit/LiveActionTV
46* BatmanGambit/MythologyAndReligion
47* BatmanGambit/ProfessionalWrestling
48* BatmanGambit/{{Radio}}
49* BatmanGambit/{{Sports}}
50* BatmanGambit/TabletopGames
51* BatmanGambit/{{Theatre}}
52* BatmanGambit/VideoGames
53* BatmanGambit/VisualNovels
54* BatmanGambit/WebAnimation
55* BatmanGambit/{{Webcomics}}
56* BatmanGambit/WebOriginal
57* BatmanGambit/WesternAnimation
58* BatmanGambit/RealLife
59[[/index]]
60
61----
62''You came from a failed link? No? [[SpannerInTheWorks Curses]].''

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