Times cryptic chess clue
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
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.'
I must find an excuse to use the chess note: 'Rocked Rooked and Rolled by a Rookies Rook.'
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
From Saturday's Times cryptic jumbo - "Make defensive move as learner in class (6)"
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Defensive move?Simon Brown wrote: ↑Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:29 amFrom Saturday's Times cryptic jumbo - "Make defensive move as learner in class (6)"
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Castle, although it isn't a defensive move.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
True, but castling to safety could be considered as defensive, I guess.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
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!
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
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)"
"Like rook moves, perhaps, what's odd about king and pawn finish after I moved? (13)"
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
PERPENDlCULARSimon Brown wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 3:27 pmOne 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)"
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.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Not Ding, but something less challenging from yesterday's Quick Cryptic; "Flier featuring chess piece and chess player, we hear? (10)
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
That's a bit too easy. A royal angler!
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
One from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Think I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 1:05 pmOne from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
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.Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:18 pmThink I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 1:05 pmOne from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Indeed - not a good "surface", as the cruciverbalists like to term it. (Even though it includes a reference to one. )Paul Habershon wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:47 pmI don't think it's a particularly good clue as it doesn't read as natural sense.Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:18 pmThink I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 1:05 pmOne from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.
"The chess-board is the world ..... the player on the other side is hidden from us ..... he never overlooks a mistake, or makes the smallest allowance for ignorance."
(He doesn't let you resign and start again, either.)
(He doesn't let you resign and start again, either.)
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
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?Paul Habershon wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:47 pmA '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.Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 7:18 pmThink I've found the word but can't quite fit to clue, mate.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2023 1:05 pmOne from today’s Jumbo cryptic; “Unique floor covering - length deployed in game (9)”.