Piece about simply ignoring the odds? It could make you a packet (8)
I believe the answer is:
shipyard
'it could make you a packet' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'piece about simply ignoring the odds?' is the wordplay.
'piece' becomes 'shard' (shard is a kind of piece).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'ignoring the odds?' means one should take alternating letters (letters in odd-numbered positions are removed).
The alternate letters of 'simply' are 'ipy'.
'shard' placed around 'ipy' is 'SHIPYARD'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shipyard that I've seen before include "Naval construction site" , "Harland and Wolff, say" , "Place of marine construction and repair" , "Place where vessels are built" , "What might have a slipway" .)