WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

take chances
    v 1: take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome; "When you
         buy these stocks you are gambling" [syn: gamble,
         chance, risk, hazard, take chances, adventure,
         run a risk, take a chance]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

26 Moby Thesaurus words for "take chances":
   brave, chance, chance it, court destruction, dare, defy danger,
   face up to, forget the odds, gamble, gamble on, hazard,
   play with fire, rely on fortune, risk, run a chance,
   run the chance, run the risk, set at hazard, take a chance,
   take a flier, tempt Providence, tempt fortune, trust to chance,
   try the chance, venture, wager