In patches, some game! (5)

I believe the answer is:

chess

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

'in patches some' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'CHESS' is hidden within 'patches some'.

(Other definitions for chess that I've seen before include "show" , "Ancient war game whose name may have derived for the Persian for 'king'" , "Game with kings and queens" , "Pieces moved in this" , "Board game for two players" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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