Ready with pawn, say, to make practised move (3,5)
I believe the answer is:
set piece
'make practised move' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'ready with pawn say' is the wordplay.
'ready' becomes 'set' (set can mean ready or prepared).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'pawn say' becomes 'piece' (pawn is a chess piece).
'set'+'piece'='SET-PIECE'
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for set piece that I've seen before include "well-rehearsed manoeuvre" , "Carefully prepared performance (from free kick?)" , "Carefully planned manoeuvre" , "Standard manoeuvre" , "Foral arrangement as in art or literature" .)