Spectator N0 2500

[Matakari]

Happy Easter to all! I was expecting a series of anagrams from
Doc for this special occasion, but have not been able to discover them!
Some help/hints with the following would be appreciated, thanks!

ACROSS:
7 Game at stake for cup (6) : ?O????
12 Subordinates’ broken Strad missing – clues should not be so (9): ???????L?
24 Church spoke about accents (8): ?E??????

DOWN:
14 Crazy US soldier seen in ten cases (9): ?????ICA?
18 Kind, dashing new team (9): ???L?????
19 Signalling devices with support and chains (10): ???OLE??ES

[roslyn251254]

If you know the theme / missing letter in all answers ...that helps . Clue in the title...
24a usual CE for church + said reversed with 2 missing ?s
7a Go is the game ..+ usual 3 letter word for a gamble...one ? is missing

[Duckman74]

I must admit to failing to get to grips with this one so far. I'm finding some of the clues are indeed almost 12 across...

Hint: word for something you can work out beginning with 'i'

[Duckman74]

*something you CAN'T work out

[bobbinwales]

12 think of chalk and water

[novalis]

18 down - anagram + 2 missing ?s. It is hyphenated.
12 across - subtractive anagram + 2 missing ?s.

[Matakari]

Many thanks, all! I must confess that I'm very poor
at working out missing letters, but will not give up
so easily!

[novalis]

It is the same letter in each answer - a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 4. There are 50 in total. That coupled with the title should tell you what the letter is.

[ProfessorMaisie]

14d 'ten' = IO + GI + CA = 'cases' (+ 3 unclued letters).
19d a very old word for radio sets = an old word for 'telegrams' + ESSES = 'chains' (+1 unclued letter).

[ProfessorMaisie]

...sorry - the kind of 'support' in a bra (I don't know why I put 'telegrams').

[ProfessorMaisie]

...and Happy Easter, to you too.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, Doc has used very similar stuff in many of the 'significant numbers' puzzles - I'm sure you've encountered some of these over the past decade or so!

[Matakari]

Eureka! Suddenly, I'm seeing the light... answers have been staring me in the face all along! Thanks for leading me in the right direction!

[novalis]

Now you've had your Eureka moment you should be able to find almost all the answers in Word Wizard or similar. 2 down is a German word.

[Matakari]

Novalis, what do we mean by "subtractive anagram"
with reference to 12?

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, Doc has used subtractive anagrams quite a lot recently. The term just means to remove a part/word from another in the clue and then anagram it. Here, Strad gets taken out (missing), of 'subordinates', with 'broken' indicating an anagram. This time, the thematic element has to be added, of course.

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, that's crystal clear! I keep learning!

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. We're all still learning! I'm sure you've made progress in some areas, and at your own pace.