A chess inspired puzzle from Mass, where every clue makes reference to the game and/or some its famous players. Like all puzzles from this setter I found this pretty tough but got there in the end.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | MAKES A MOVE |
| 8 | PAL,DETAIL< – PALLIATED |
| 9 | initial letters of “nasty early combination”,K – NECK |
| 10 | S(QU)ASH |
| 11 | PARAD[-e],I GM |
| 13 | RE(E)FER – a REEFER can be someone who reefs (shortens a sail), like a midshipman or mate. |
| 14 | (H[-a]STY MATE)* – AMETHYST |
| 17 | POSITION – “opening” is a reference to a (job) vacancy. |
| 19 | CAS(B,A)H |
| 21 | (EG TAL ONE)* – ELONGATE |
| 23 | LEG,A,TO |
| 25 | S,KIN[-g] |
| 26 | BAR(SIR<)TER – BARRISTER |
| 27 | (PRO PUTS CES)* – PROSPECTUS |
| Down | |
| 1 | MA(I)N,SHEET |
| 2 | KIT,E |
| 3 | S,(MISREAD)* – SIDE ARMS |
| 4 | MAN,I,A |
| 5 | V,ACUITY |
| 6 | APOSTROPHE – which appears in “fool’s mate” |
| 7 | C(L)AUSE |
| 12 | MATCHBOARD – a type of flooring, hence “one of many” I guess. |
| 15 | (GREAT)*,DIES – TRAGEDIES. Excellent – best clue of the puzzle, for me. |
| 16 | POR[-e],TABLE |
| 18 | S,HOCK,ER – another good ‘un. |
| 20 | B(R)ATTY |
| 22 | GEN[-i]US – you could argue that this is the only clue that actually requires a tiny bit of chess related knowledge but then again maybe Bobby Fischer was famous enough for even non-chess fans to have heard of him. |
| 24 | GRI[T for P] |
A classic themed puzzle from Mass, which reminded me of similar ones of old from him in the Indy. Yes, it was very hard. This was always likely though from the constraints the setter imposed on himself. Thanks, Mass.
What, no more words of praise yet for this quite outstanding puzzle from a true grandmaster?! This was a real clueing tour de force, made all the more remarkable by the fact that none of the answers were overtly thematic. Sheer joy to solve – many thanks, Mass.