Back rank?Gerard Killoran wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:07 pm
An example of a cryptic chess clue could be 'Rear Admiral's weakness' (4,4).
Times cryptic chess clue
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Correct.JustinHorton wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 7:38 pmBack rank?Gerard Killoran wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 5:07 pm
An example of a cryptic chess clue could be 'Rear Admiral's weakness' (4,4).
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
I rarely attempt cryptic crosswords so am unsure of the conventions, but my thinking is that 'One' could be 'I' and 'piece by queen' one of B, P or K (but K being the popular choice) . Then those two letters are inside another word for 'drag', but minus its terminal letter(s) ('failing to finish') . The definition being 'lines'.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:30 pmFrom today's Times - "One piece by queen in drag, failing to finish lines (5)"
I've found a solution to the above, but it feels obscure and may be way off the mark so am not keen to declare it just at the moment....
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Those hints gave enough
Insight into Simon's clue
For me to solve it
Insight into Simon's clue
For me to solve it
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
This was tough and positioned in the top right quadrant, the area I found hardest anyway. I certainly needed to get another letter towards it, known in the trade as a crosser.Simon Brown wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:30 pmFrom today's Times - "One piece by queen in drag, failing to finish lines (5)"
The 'one piece by queen' is IK (could have been IB), so when another word gave me H as the starting letter I got HAIKU (= lines). Then you realise the HA..U is haul (= drag) failing to finish.
The Times expects solvers to know chess notation, including N for knight (but not sure about O-O for 'oo'). The clue elsewhere in this thread about the Rear Admiral would be valid only in a chess themed cryptic, I think, because 'back rank' is too specialist a definition of 'weakness', even with the addition of '(weakness) on board'. Pity, because 'on board' goes smoothly with Rear Admiral.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Born without chopper but leaps about gayly with unperturbed androgynous pals anyway. (6)
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Thank you, Paul. So not 'IP' then as a pawn is not a piece? I was making things more difficult for myself by not realising that.Paul Habershon wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:56 amSimon Brown wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:30 pmFrom today's Times - "One piece by queen in drag, failing to finish lines (5)"
The 'one piece by queen' is IK (could have been IB), so when another word gave me H as the starting letter I got HAIKU (= lines). Then you realise the HA..U is haul (= drag) failing to finish.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
I agree that was a tough one, I also had the H, from the first clue I solved.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
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Last edited by NigelDonovan on Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
More pertinently, Kevin, I think the pawn is in front of the queen, not by.Kevin Williamson wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:46 amThank you, Paul. So not 'IP' then as a pawn is not a piece? I was making things more difficult for myself by not realising that.Paul Habershon wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:56 amSimon Brown wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:30 pmFrom today's Times - "One piece by queen in drag, failing to finish lines (5)"
The 'one piece by queen' is IK (could have been IB), so when another word gave me H as the starting letter I got HAIKU (= lines). Then you realise the HA..U is haul (= drag) failing to finish.
The distinction between pawn and piece is probably too specialist for general cryptics and, indeed, quizzes. On ITV's 'The Chase' yesterday the Chaser, the one called Paul who is the current UK Quiz Champion, was asked which chess piece (I'm not actually sure if that word was used) occupies the second and seventh ranks. 'Knight', he said, on the way to letting the contestants' team of four win £29000 between them.
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
With Simon's clue, I'd got as far as the "hau" element, but couldn't be sure it was right without the "H" crosser. I'd have needed a lot more time before tumbling to "haiku". I like Jack's reply - very clever!
And I'd have put "£29,000 among them" - I still hold to the notion that "between" is used only when referring to two people or entities.
Have to agree.More pertinently, Kevin, I think the pawn is in front of the queen, not by.
And I'd have put "£29,000 among them" - I still hold to the notion that "between" is used only when referring to two people or entities.
"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
Part cryptic, part unfathomable, partly playful crossword clue: world champion crowned in 600 years time writes congratulatory letter on last sold in Harrolds 200 years previously, reveled in the Sunday times one Sunday in late October a mere 500 years or from now (preorder available if assistance is required).
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
Capturing rook left one ready to mate champion (9)
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Re: Times cryptic chess clue
I'd need a crosser or two to get Tom's one, I think.
Meanwhile, try this (which some might think more like a Spectator or Mephisto clue):
Averting disaster having lost a rook to his fellow-countryman, he still finished last. (7)
Meanwhile, try this (which some might think more like a Spectator or Mephisto clue):
Averting disaster having lost a rook to his fellow-countryman, he still finished last. (7)
"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
"Cracking the Cryptic" Youtube channel yesterday covered the Listener crossword from about 3 weeks ago, number 4630.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-viPim9hm6M
One clue was, "Pawn gets moved to pin rook in centre" (6)
The good news is the clue is normal... In just over half the down clues, you had to change one letter in the answer and once you solved all the clues, you would find instructions on how to find the mystery answer. I won't spoil your fun by telling you what that was...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-viPim9hm6M
One clue was, "Pawn gets moved to pin rook in centre" (6)
The good news is the clue is normal... In just over half the down clues, you had to change one letter in the answer and once you solved all the clues, you would find instructions on how to find the mystery answer. I won't spoil your fun by telling you what that was...