Amateurs spread pieces (6)

I believe the answer is:

laymen

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'amateurs' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'spread pieces' is the wordplay.
'spread' becomes 'lay' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'pieces' becomes 'men' (man can mean a chess piece).
'lay'+'men'='LAYMEN'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for laymen that I've seen before include "Amateur" , "People with little expertise" , "chaps in the congregation" , "Male parishioners" , "fellows in congregation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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