Times cryptic chess clue

[Matt Mackenzie]

He is 88 tomorrow, actually.

[MJMcCready]

Cryptic crosswords seem more cryptic than chess to me.

[Paul Habershon]

Cryptic crosswords seem more cryptic than chess to me.

Both activities demand very narrow spheres of intelligence and depend on how enjoyable or fascinating they are to potential participants. Dragoljub, above, is unnecessarily self-deprecating by calling himself a 'thicko' for being unable to solve cryptic clues. He (and you, Mark) probably could acquire the skill but it does need time and motivation. I had the advantage of growing up with my parents being solvers.

A lad at my school chess club who went on to gain a double first at Cambridge was useless at chess, while some only moderately academic pupils were strong players. Alan Turing's weakness at the the game is often noted. Thankfully he was good at something much more useful.

[MJMcCready]

I've never seen the appeal or ever been able to work out how to do them. I used to do the crosswords in The New York TImes in the 90s but not for that long and not usually by myself.

[John Clarke]

From today's Guardian cryptic (#29,683):

"Notice man after seance regularly appearing." (7)

The chess connection isn't immediately apparent.

[Paul Habershon]

From today's Guardian cryptic (#29,683):

"Notice man after seance regularly appearing." (7)

The chess connection isn't immediately apparent.

S - A - C - (SeAnCe regularly) KING is a chess man
SACKING = notice (as in being given notice)

Even QUEEN is a chess man, though I haven't seen a setter use it in this context. 'Man on board' is another favourite device which is fair enough for solvers with no specialist chess knowledge. However, it surprises me that non-chessplaying solvers are expected to know N for knight.

[Alistair Campbell]

Not the Times, but today's Minute Cryptic:

Think back about origin of Greek horse made of wood sometimes (6)

[Reg Clucas]

Not the Times, but today's Minute Cryptic:

Think back about origin of Greek horse made of wood sometimes (6)

'Think back' = 'kniht'
'Origin of Greek' = G

[John Clarke]

From the Guardian cryptic #29,804, a pretty unusual chess allusion:

Was first to see a pattern that threatens the monarch (10,5)

[Paul Habershon]

From the Guardian cryptic #29,804, a pretty unusual chess allusion:

Was first to see a pattern that threatens the monarch (10,5)

Need a couple of crossers for this, please.

[Simon Brown]

From the Guardian cryptic #29,804, a pretty unusual chess allusion:

Was first to see a pattern that threatens the monarch (10,5)

That’s quite tricky for a non-player.

Today’s Sunday Times cryptic has “ Game for GM garnish royal left out for husband (5)”

[Paul Habershon]

From the Guardian cryptic #29,804, a pretty unusual chess allusion:

Was first to see a pattern that threatens the monarch (10,5)

Need a couple of crossers for this, please.

Actually got the solution without the crossers while getting to sleep last night. Realised that CHECK is a pattern. The allusion is on a par with the very first post in this thread: PASSED PAWN. Oddly that is in my rather old edition of Chambers Dictionary whereas this latest example is not. Does anyone buy dictionaries nowadays?

[Simon Brown]

Today’s jumbo cryptic. “Croc’s back - strewth, cobber, it’s game over (9)”

[Geoff Chandler]

Guess It is checkmate - cobber = mate, not sure about 'crocs back' = scorc.
Could it be crocodile clip - which holds something place. as in checked.

[Simon Brown]

Yep. Back of croc is c (last letter being the back), strewth = heck and you got the rest!