Crossword Genius

Do I win at chess without it? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

imitate

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

'i win at chess without it?' is the wordplay.
'win at chess' becomes 'mate' (I've seen this in another clue).
'without' means one lot of letters goes inside another ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'mate' enclosing 'it' is 'mitate'.
'i'+'mitate'='IMITATE'

(Other definitions for imitate that I've seen before include "Appear like, in behaviour or appearance" , "I tame it (anag)" , "Follow suit" , "Copy (mannerisms)" , "I tame it to copy it" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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