Crossword Genius

Pickle perhaps specially for game (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

preserve

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'pickle perhaps' is the definition.
(pickling is a kind of preserving)

'specially for game' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'game' could be 'p' (I have seen 'French game ' mean 'p' so perhaps 'game' could also mean 'p') and 'p' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'reserve' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for preserve that I've seen before include "speciality" , "Keep safe from spoilage" , "Keep from decay in perverse way" , "Area of activity" , "area where game is held" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian and The Globe and Mail.
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