The reveal for this puzzle can be found at 38-Across. Game where the ends of the answers to starred clues are commonly heard : CHESS.
17-Across. *Aperture : LENS OPENING. The most important part of the game, where players set up their pawns and develop their pieces.
24-Across. *Words said between courses : KEEP YOUR FORK. Typically, this refers to a knight that attacks two different chess pieces.
46-Across. *It can be a painful reminder : REALITY CHECK. A direct attack on the opponent's king. It can be painful for a chess champion...
57-Across. *Sister's symbol : SORORITY PIN. When an opponent pins a piece, it means that the piece cannot move because doing so would expose another more valuable piece, like the king or queen.
11-Down. *Part of a class act : SCHOOLMATE. When a player is in mate (short for "checkmate"), it means that his king has no legal move, and he loses the game.
28-Down. *Place to see shell decorations : SAND CASTLE. A move done during the opening, where the king and rook swap sides. It can either be "long" (on the queen's side) where the rook moves three squares, or "short" (on the king's side) where the rook moves two squares:
Six long theme entries, with four intersecting each other, plus a reveal in the center of the grid. I'm as impressed with David's puzzle as I would be watching Kasparov play against Karpov!
The rest of the fill was pretty straight-forward for a Thursday, with only a few misdirections.
1. Chain named for two oceans : A AND P. I was thinking islands here, not grocery stores. Plus, I had "AGs" at 4-down, so this was the last to fill. Officially, A&P is "The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company."
6. Diet guru Jenny : CRAIG. Kirstie Alley is back as the spokesperson.
11. Slender slider : SKI. Nailed it! (Did you think of the little hamburgers?)
14. Patch plant : BRIAR. If you fall into one, you may need to patch your pants.
15. Cuban dance : RUMBA. Salsa or mambo would also fit...
16. "The Lead With Jake Tapper" airer : CNN.
19. __ polloi : HOI.
20. Suffix with Senegal : ESE.
21. First American to orbit Earth : GLENN. And a clecho at 10-Down. First Russian to orbit Earth : GAGARIN.
22. Oak product ... or source : ACORN. "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."
26. Email again : RESEND. Do you sometimes regret the fact that you sent it in the first place?
29. Pie perch : SILL.
30. Seed-bearing organ : OVARY.
31. Many a preadolescent : TWEEN. In modern usage it usually signifies a young girl who is "in-between" stages of life: "Too old for toys, too young for boys." But J.R.R. Tolkien used it to describe Hobbits who were post-teenagers: "At that time Frodo was still in his tweens, as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three."
34. Hiker's reference : MAP.
37. Southernmost Ivy : PENN.
39. Bean used in falafel : FAVA. Served with veggies and tahini sauce - yummm!
40. Call off : END.
41. Underground anchors : ROOTS.
42. Turning part : ROTOR. Remember these?
43. Mine find : COAL.
45. Like some partners : SILENT.
51. Atelier fixture : EASEL.
52. Mission where Jim Bowie fell : ALAMO.
53. Hub WNW of LAS : SFO. McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, San Francisco Airport.
56. Mohawked muscleman : MR T.
60. In the infirmary : ILL.
61. Hold water : ADD UP.
62. Maudlin : TEARY.
63. Lao-__ : TSE.
64. Irritable : TESTY.
65. Fast-growing school's need, perhaps : ANNEX.
Down
1. Seaman descriptor : ABLE.
2. God with a vulture symbol : ARES. He had lots of other symbols: Spear, helmut, dog, chariot, boar and flaming torch.
3. Diamond group : NINE.
4. Trial VIPs : DAs. What was I thinking by putting in AGs???
5. Scion : PROGENY.
6. Walk on tiptoe : CREEP.
7. Like noses, at times : RUNNY. My allergies have been given a break with all the rain lately.
8. Kind of acid in proteins : AMINO.
9. Hebrew : Ben :: Arabic : __ : IBN.
12. Stock market giant? : KNORR. Soup stock, that is.
13. Confident way to solve crosswords : IN INK. Many Cornerites solve this way. I'm not so confident!
18. Earnestly appealed : PLED.
23. Grey Cup org. : CFL. Canadian Football League. Totally filled by perps.
24. "Show Boat" composer : KERN. I have linked "Ol' Man River" sung by Paul Robeson before.
25. Takes advantage of : USES.
26. It's often skipped : ROPE. Nope, "class" wouldn't fit.
27. __ number : EVEN.
31. Nevertheless, informally : THO.
32. Slippery, perhaps : WET.
33. Pothook shape : ESS.
35. Skin So Soft seller : AVON. It has been touted as a mosquito repellent, but DEET is the only thing that works for me.
36. Barbershop division? : PART.
38. Future stallion : COLT.
39. Traditional genre : FOLK. So many to choose from, but here is Woody Guthrie's classic "This Land is Your Land."
41. Gives a tongue-lashing : RAILS AT.
42. Cannoli cheese : RICOTTA.
44. World Cup cheer : OLE.
45. One usually keeping to the right : SEMI. Tractor Trailers are often prohibited from entering the passing lane.
46. Send in : REMIT.
47. British nobles : EARLS.
48. Barbecue venues : YARDS.
49. Influence : CLOUT.
50. Half-woman, half-bird monster : HARPY. Found in classical literature, and also in "The Game of Thrones."
53. Bridge : SPAN.
54. Blaze : FIRE. Hey, C.C.! Loved your puzzle yesterday!
55. Jet-black gemstone : ONYX.
58. Flowery composition : ODE.
59. Kyoto currency : YEN. I have a yen to play some more...
…but my time is up!
Marti
