"Ceux qui sont habiles à faire bouger l'ennemi le font en créant une situation à laquelle il doit se conformer ; ils l'attirent avec quelque chose qu'il est certain de prendre, et avec des leurres de profit apparent, ils l'attendent en force."
— Sun Tzu
Simplified Meaning:
When someone is good at getting their opponent to act a certain way, they set up a scenario that the opponent feels they have to respond to. They dangle something tempting in front of the opponent, something the opponent can't resist. In the end, the opponent falls into the trap, chasing after what looks like an easy win or profit. This trick is similar to how a hunter uses bait to lure an animal into a trap. For example, consider a chess player who sacrifices a lesser piece to make their opponent feel like they've gained an advantage, only to set them up for a checkmate. In daily life, this idea can be applied by thinking ahead about what will make others act predictably, allowing you to better plan your next steps and stay one step ahead of challenges.
