Times cryptic chess clue

[Paul Habershon]

The Crossword Help Forum site has a post mentioning this clue in yesterday's Times:

One dissenting from popular line plugged by chess authority (7)

INFIDEL

So solvers are expected to know FIDE, though googling 'chess authority' brings it up immediately.

[Paul Habershon]

This was my LOI (last one in) yesterday:

Stands apart from British men put in the corner (5)

ROOKS

Definition: men put in the corner

Cryptically
brooks=stands (e.g. brooks no opposition)

Remove B for British ('apart from British')

[Simon Brown]

Hard one today. "No knight, evidently, taking queen in game (5)"

[Paul Habershon]

Hard one today. "No knight, evidently, taking queen in game (5)"

I didn't attempt that crossword yesterday but I have looked at the solution today and would certainly have needed letters towards the answer to that clue.
Answer: ROQUE, a game described as an American form of croquet. Apparently it was played in the 1904 Olympics. As for the cryptic element I don't think much of ROUE (a debauched man, often elderly) equating to 'No knight'. Taking in Q for queen is obviously ok.

[John Clarke]

Have to agree with Paul's comments. The definition part of the clue is particularly poor. A year or two back, I had several goes at the fortnightly cluing competition in the Guardian's Crossword Blog column, and got piled on a couple of times for violating the expected conventions. One of which is that you don't define something by saying what it isn't.

[Geoff Chandler]

Apparently in the NY times crossword, Monday 17th June:

"Perhaps a king or queen, but not a prince (10)"

extra clue: I would have given number of letters as (5 and 5)

[Paul Habershon]

Apparently in the NY times crossword, Monday 17th June:

"Perhaps a king or queen, but not a prince (10)"

extra clue: I would have given number of letters as (5 and 5)

Is the solution CHESSPIECE? On the (10) v (5, 5) question I was surprised to see that the single word version is indeed acceptable for Scrabble.

[Geoff Chandler]

Yes chesspiece. I saw the clue in a chessgames thread. Gave that answer, no reply. Must be right.

[Simon Brown]

One from the Times today; "Queen, potentially, with even less money for merchant? (10)"

[Roland Kensdale]

One from the Times today; "Queen, potentially, with even less money for merchant? (10)"

I think I've finally got one of these: pawnbroker

Not sure if should've held off to let others solve.

[Reg Clucas]

One from the Times today; "Queen, potentially, with even less money for merchant? (10)"

I think I've finally got one of these: pawnbroker

Not sure if should've held off to let others solve.

Not sure whether 'broker' is valid in this context. You're either broke or you're not!

[Richard Bates]

One from the Times today; "Queen, potentially, with even less money for merchant? (10)"

I think I've finally got one of these: pawnbroker

Not sure if should've held off to let others solve.

Not sure whether 'broker' is valid in this context. You're either broke or you're not!

Well if you can be “flat broke”, as opposed to just “broke” then I suppose you can arguably be broker? Perhaps more so if assumed that the money for the merchant is to “buy (make new purchases) from” rather than “pay (meet existing debts to)”.

[Simon Brown]

Another one today; "Friend from Eastern Europe reported fall of King (9)" and an easy one from yesterday "Grandmaster capturing a piece in sacrificial stratagem (6)"

[Roland Kensdale]

Another one today; "Friend from Eastern Europe reported fall of King (9)" and an easy one from yesterday "Grandmaster capturing a piece in sacrificial stratagem (6)"

Czech (reported=sounds like) and mate so checkmate.

I have the easier one but will leave for others to have a go at.

[Roland Kensdale]

Another one today; "Friend from Eastern Europe reported fall of King (9)" and an easy one from yesterday "Grandmaster capturing a piece in sacrificial stratagem (6)"

Czech (reported=sounds like) and mate so checkmate.

I have the easier one but will leave for others to have a go at.

Edit: more correctly: mate (friend)+Czech (reported=sounds like) so checkmate