History Main / GambitPileup

Often overlaps with FlockOfWolves or RightHandVersusLeftHand, and can often be the result of TheBigBadShuffle. XanatosSpeedChess is a defining trait. A PsychologicalThriller is more likely to have one of these. Expect lots of IKnowYouKnowIKnow. Expect a lot of people to be OutGambitted, a lot of {{Unwitting Pawn}}s, a lot of saying "[[AllAccordingToPlan All According to Plan!]]", and ''maybe'' someone to have the LastPlanStanding. Compare GambitRoulette, where one person has an improbable plan that would only make sense if he/she is near omniscient. Also compare MultilayerFacade. Particularly convoluted and fantastical versions of this trope can dip straight into MindScrew.

* The ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' [[PerspectiveFlip reinterpretation]] ''Manhua/RavagesOfTime'' outdoes just about every other example on this list, with the main characters coming up with incredibly complex, multilayered plans, that often predict each others steps with incredible accuracy, to the point where the characters seem literally psychic. Even the MINOR characters come up with what would normally be seen as competent strategies, but for the more important ones, it gets to the point where you swear that they have to be able to see into the future. You literally have whole arcs where it's completely a back and forth between plans, [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow with one strategist predicting the other strategist predicting him predicting them etc.]].

* ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro'' is a stage comedy and a comic opera. The valet Figaro wants to marry the maid Susanna. Count Almaviva want to use DroitDuSeigneur to bed the servant girl on her wedding night before her husband can sleep with her. Figaro schemes to prevent this. The play gets more and more confusing as more people join the conflict. Countess Almaviva desires her husband, who neglects her. Marcellina claims that Figaro promised to marry her. The page Cherubino is after every women and music master Basilio is gossiping around.

* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' features the gambits of Zouken Matou, Kirei Kotomine, the Einzbern family, Saber, Caster, [[spoiler:Gilgamesh]], [[spoiler:Counter-Guardian EMIYA]], and [[spoiler:Avenger]] all being executed during the Fifth Grail War. [[ForWantOfANail Slight changes at the start of each route]] cause different gambits to take precedence in each route.

Often overlaps with FlockOfWolves or RightHandVersusLeftHand, and can often be the result of TheBigBadShuffle. XanatosSpeedChess is a defining trait. A PsychologicalThriller is more likely to have one of these. Expect lots of IKnowYouKnowIKnow. Expect a lot of people to be OutGambitted, a lot of {{Unwitting Pawn}}s, a lot of saying "[[{{AllAccordingToPlan}} All According to Plan!]]", and ''maybe'' someone to have the LastPlanStanding. Compare GambitRoulette, where one person has an improbable plan that would only make sense if he/she is near omniscient. Also compare MultilayerFacade. Particularly convoluted and fantastical versions of this trope can dip straight into MindScrew.

* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'' [[SuccessionGame succession games]], most notably ''LetsPlay/{{Boatmurdered}}'', eventually turn into this, with lots of [[ItMakesSenseInContext weird shit]] lying around and/or running afoul, abandoned [[WhatDoesThisButtonDo levers that do God-knows-what]], and plenty of things you definitively do ''not'' want to get involved in, but, due to outside interference or random events, eventually will. Naturally, it all culminates in an EpicFail, which is what makes them so [[UnusualEuphemism fun]].

* ''LetsPlay/HermitcraftServer'', a ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' SMP.

** As of the new Demise game, in which 18 hermits compete for '''900''' diamonds by being the last to die, with the addendum that 1) Players who have already died are encouraged to set up traps, and 2) direct PvP is not allowed, this is bound to arise.