translation - Use of いける in this sentence

戦術{せんじゅつ}と戦闘{せんとう}どっちもいける奴{やつ}には勝{か}てない。

The translation of this seems to be

(He) will not win against someone who can do both strategy and fighting

However this is the first I've seen いける used to mean "can do". I would have understood どっちもできる, so am I translating correctly? Else in what context can one be substituted for the other?

Answer

行{い}ける vs. いける

When a common word that is usually written using kanji is written in kana, you can be 99% sure that it is being used for its "new" and/or colloquial (sometimes slangy) meaning.

So, 「行ける」 means "to be able to go", but 「いける」 means something else. What does it mean, then? Let us quote from デジタル大辞泉.

動{どう}カ下一{しもいち}］《行{い}くことができる意{い}から》

１ 相当{そうとう}にうまくできる。「歌{うた}だけでなく、踊{おど}りも―・ける」

２ 相当の量{りょう}の酒{さけ}が飲{の}める。「なかなか―・ける口{くち}だ」

３ 飲食物{いんしょくぶつ}の味{あじ}がよく、おいしい。いただける。「ここの料理{りょうり}はちょっと―・ける」

That briefly translates to:

1 To be able to perform quite well

2 To be able to drink in large quantities

3 To taste good. Tasty, delicious.

So, the word has very positive meanings.

「戦術{せんじゅつ}と戦闘{せんとう}どっちもいける奴{やつ}には勝{か}てない。」

thus means:

"It is hard to beat a guy who is very good at both strategy and (actual) fighting."