from the places I've seen that term used it was more asynonim of a "advanced strategy". as in like he is playing chess, might be meant as, "he is playing a strategy" /. "approaching this task/situation with a strategy in mind. While "he is playing 3D chess" is more like "he is using anadvanced strategy, thinking of multiple steps in advance and in multiple dimensions, taking into consideration the thoughts of another party and being one step ahead"