Game defender having loaded empty gun? (10)

I believe the answer is:

backgammon

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'game' is the definition.
(backgammon is a kind of game)

'defender having loaded empty gun?' is the wordplay.
'defender' becomes 'back' (I've seen this before).
'having' says to put letters next to each other.
'loaded empty gun?' becomes 'gammon' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'back'+'gammon'='BACKGAMMON'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for backgammon that I've seen before include "Players' race to clear tables" , "Board game for two players" , "Game with 24 points" , "Dicey business" , "Dice and counter game" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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