La pregunta de desempate permite ganar.

Because la means the, so la pregunta means the question. Spanish often uses the definite article when referring to something specific or already known from the context.

• la pregunta de desempate = the tiebreaker question
• una pregunta de desempate = a tiebreaker question

So this sentence is talking about a particular question, not just any one.

De desempate means for breaking a tie or simply tiebreaker.

• desempate = tie-break / tiebreaker
• pregunta de desempate = tiebreaker question

This is a very common Spanish structure: noun + de + noun, where the second noun describes the first one.

Examples:

• sala de espera = waiting room
• gafas de sol = sunglasses
• pregunta de desempate = tiebreaker question

Because Spanish often prefers a noun phrase with de where English might use a noun as an adjective.

In English, tiebreaker question puts one noun directly before another. Spanish usually does not do that. Instead, it says:

• pregunta de desempate

A more adjective-like form might exist in theory, but it would sound much less natural here. De desempate is the normal, idiomatic way to say it.

Literally, it means allows to win or makes winning possible.

• permite = allows / enables
• ganar = to win

So the idea is: The tiebreaker question allows someone to win.

In natural English, you might translate it as:

• The tiebreaker question lets you win
• The tiebreaker question makes it possible to win
• The tiebreaker question decides who wins

The best translation depends on context.

Because after permitir, Spanish normally uses a bare infinitive directly:

• permitir + infinitive

So:

• permite ganar = it allows winning / it allows someone to win

You do not put a before the infinitive here.

Examples:

• Esto permite ahorrar tiempo. = This allows you to save time.
• La aplicación permite pagar con tarjeta. = The app allows you to pay by card.

The sentence does not say explicitly. The subject of ganar is understood from the context.

So La pregunta de desempate permite ganar means something like:

• The tiebreaker question allows someone to win
• The tiebreaker question makes it possible to win

If you wanted to say exactly who can win, Spanish could make it explicit:

• La pregunta de desempate te permite ganar. = The tiebreaker question allows you to win.
• La pregunta de desempate permite al equipo ganar. = The tiebreaker question allows the team to win.

Because it depends on permite.

After verbs like permitir, querer, poder, necesitar, and many others, Spanish often uses an infinitive for the second action.

Here:

• main verb: permite
• second action: ganar

So the structure is:

• permite + infinitive

Examples:

• puedo entrar = I can enter
• quiere salir = he/she wants to leave
• permite ganar = it allows winning / allows someone to win

Because ganar can be used without saying the thing won when the meaning is obvious from context.

Depending on the situation, ganar could mean:

• to win the game
• to win the contest
• to win the match
• simply to win

So La pregunta de desempate permite ganar is natural if everyone already knows what is being won.

If you wanted to be more specific, you could say:

• La pregunta de desempate permite ganar el concurso. = The tiebreaker question allows you to win the contest.

Yes, and that version is often more explicit.

• permite ganar = more general, slightly more compact
• permite que ganes = allows you to win, with the subject made clearer

Why ganes? Because after permitir que, Spanish normally uses the subjunctive:

• permite que + subjunctive

So:

• La pregunta de desempate permite que ganes.

Both are possible, but permite ganar is shorter and more neutral when the person who wins is understood from context.

Here, desempate is a noun.

• empate = tie / draw
• desempate = tie-break / tie-breaking situation

In pregunta de desempate, the noun desempate describes what kind of question it is: a question used to break a tie.

So even though English uses tiebreaker almost like an adjective in tiebreaker question, Spanish is still using a noun phrase.

The basic structure is:

• La pregunta de desempate = subject
• permite = main verb
• ganar = infinitive complement

So literally:

[The tiebreaker question] [allows] [to win].

This is a very common Spanish pattern:

• subject + verb + infinitive

Example:

• La herramienta permite trabajar más rápido. = The tool allows you to work faster.

So this sentence is grammatically simple, even if the implied meaning depends on context.