Times cryptic chess clue

[Paul Habershon]

Incidentally the Sunday Times cryptic clue for KING was simply
I am obliged to avoid capture (4)

Difficult unless you already have ?I?G.

I didn't get it even though I had -I-G.

I assume it works because I AM OBLIGED is TA, and CAPTURE is TAKING, and TAKING avoiding TA is KING, but it's a pretty weak clue, IMO. The definition reading of the clue isn't really accurate.

Thanks, David, I hadn't appreciated the TA idea. I think it actually makes the clue better than I thought it was. I believe the technical term for this type of clue, with the definition incorporated in the wordplay, is '& lit', (= and literally so).

[Phil Neatherway]

Here are some clues from a themed Times crossword.

Partner's decisive win (4)
The most powerful on in the game is female, however (8)
How a chess game is likely to continue, many coaches take it (4,4)
Bishop captured by powerful man on board - end of game's wonderful (9)
With openings in chess, dared to go wrong? Hard cheese (7)
More than one man in game cheats (5)

[Geoff Chandler]

The Metro today. One down.

'Where to buy chessmen back?' (8)

My extra clue: (They should promote the fact the are selling them.)

[MJMcCready]

That's tough. No idea.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Pawnshop, presumably.

[MJMcCready]

Ah yes, good one.

[Stewart Reuben]

When I was a schoolboy, I devised the following crossword clue.
Senior officer as well. A gasser! 6, 7.

[MJMcCready]

Is it Robert Fischer?

[Phil Neatherway]

In case anyone is interested, here are the answers to the clues I posted above a few days ago:-

Partner's decisive win (4) MATE
The most powerful on in the game is female, however (8) CHESSMAN
How a chess game is likely to continue, many coaches take it (4,4) MAIN LINE
Bishop captured by powerful man on board - end of game's wonderful (9) ADMIRABLE
With openings in chess, dared to go wrong? Hard cheese (7) CHEDDAR
More than one man in game cheats (5) ROOKS

[Mick Norris]

Thanks Phil, those of us who don't do crosswords appreciate it

[Stewart Reuben]

If somebody want to give me tto give the answer, I'll do that. At that time I had only just heard of Bobby Fischer. Petrosian was World Champion.

[Kevin Williamson]

When I was a schoolboy, I devised the following crossword clue.
Senior officer as well. A gasser! 6, 7.

I hope I'm wrong but I'll punt 'Senior Officer' as the solution.

Senior officer being the clue as well as the solution.
A gasser meaning a very funny joke. Just as this could appeal to a schoolboy.

[MJMcCready]

In the guardian today we have:
'Nearly trick chess champion, making exchanges'
(7)

[IM Jack Rudd]

TRADING, I take it.

[Paul Habershon]

TRADING, I take it.

Well done, Jack.
'Nearly trick' is TRA(P) and using DING is impressively up to date by The Guardian. I was trying unsuccessfully with the usual TAL, especially as TALKING is close to 'making exchanges'.

Do the Chinese think in terms of first names and surnames? I am not sure how DING LIREN might be defined in those terms.

I read that it's pronounced LEE-ZHEN. I wonder how many of us are getting that right. I guess we'll stick with DING and NEPO.