Times cryptic chess clue

[Geoff Chandler]

Yesterday's Metro. 18 down: 'Fleece a man on the board (4) It's easy - 'Rook.'
I must find an excuse to use the chess note: 'Rocked Rooked and Rolled by a Rookies Rook.'

[Simon Brown]

From Saturday's Times cryptic jumbo - "Make defensive move as learner in class (6)"

[David Williams]

From Saturday's Times cryptic jumbo - "Make defensive move as learner in class (6)"

Defensive move?

[Mike Alderson]

Castle, although it isn't a defensive move.

[Simon Brown]

True, but castling to safety could be considered as defensive, I guess.

[Mike Alderson]

Yes, it depends on the position of course. Castling can often get you out of trouble, but O-O-O# is one of the most satisfying conclusions to a King chase!

[Simon Brown]

One from today's crossword, supposedly a tough one as it was used in the finals of the Times Crossword Championship;

"Like rook moves, perhaps, what's odd about king and pawn finish after I moved? (13)"

[Paul Habershon]

One from today's crossword, supposedly a tough one as it was used in the finals of the Times Crossword Championship;

"Like rook moves, perhaps, what's odd about king and pawn finish after I moved? (13)"

PERPENDlCULAR

Yes, quite tough. King here is cryptically R(Rex)not the expected K. Odd is PECULIAR but with the I moved so it becomes PEICULAR in which you insert R(king) P(pawn) END (finish). Most solvers probably had some letters in place, thought of PERPENDICULAR ('like rook moves', which might have been the clue in a supposedly easier 'quick' crossword) and then worked out the cryptic pointers.

I have seen the eminently clueable DING mentioned elsewhere by a Guardian solver.
Little craft displayed by chess champ - is he struggling? (8)
DINGHIES (chess champ followed by anagram of 'is he')

It was suggested that snooker champ (Ding Junhui) may be better known and therefore fairer as part of a clue in a non-specialist crossword.

Perhaps Ding (Liren) will disappear from the chess world but live on in crosswords.

[Simon Brown]

Not Ding, but something less challenging from yesterday's Quick Cryptic; "Flier featuring chess piece and chess player, we hear? (10)

[Mike Alderson]

That's a bit too easy. A royal angler!

[Simon Brown]

One from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.

[Roland Kensdale]

One from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.

Think I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.

[Paul Habershon]

One from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.

Think I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.

A 'quick' crossword would simply have the clue as Unique (9), so that is the definition in the above cryptic clue. The 'floor covering' is a three-letter word. Then you have to realise that L is an accepted abbreviation for length. The L is then inserted (deployed) in a game, which in this case is CHESS. I don't think it's a particularly good clue as it doesn't read as natural sense.

[John Clarke]

One from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.

Think I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.

I don't think it's a particularly good clue as it doesn't read as natural sense.

Indeed - not a good "surface", as the cruciverbalists like to term it. (Even though it includes a reference to one. )

[Roland Kensdale]

One from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.

Think I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.

A 'quick' crossword would simply have the clue as Unique (9), so that is the definition in the above cryptic clue. The 'floor covering' is a three-letter word. Then you have to realise that L is an accepted abbreviation for length. The L is then inserted (deployed) in a game, which in this case is CHESS. I don't think it's a particularly good clue as it doesn't read as natural sense.

Thank you for the explanation. I got excited when I saw checkmate had 9 letters, floor covering included. I finally have the correct word. Now, where's my lighter?