In any game there is a need to sacrifice pawns, and even losing a hand in order to set the stage for winning the game. Folding a winning hand in Poker, in order to make the opponent think your bluffing, or even acting the part of a novice in a game among "experts". This is genius level game theory, many are unable to fully grasp, and POTUS is a master.
Think D-Day, The U.S. puts its #1 general in charge of a dummy army.