Saga crossword -April

[tony keates]

Would appreciate a helping hand with these, please!

1d.We're told to invest in mushrooms - they give us strength (6). I have B?????

17d. Skill that is shown by bridge players squeezed in diamonds...((7). ???????

3a....acted unwisely after a rash bid and resigned (9).

?????????

[kayakamina]

Biceps Buy Ceps (mushroom)

[kayakamina]

Abdicated Acted a bid

[valerieb1254]

9 Abdicated

anagram of Acted,bid,a

[shaneystar2]

Hi tony ..I have Science for 17D ..but I am not too sure.
Have you got any ideas for
22A It's often passed as sheer hypocrisy in an animal
?E?A?T?E
8D Protector of women has to stop me entering
?E?S?E.
These are my last two and I am really stuck!

[kayakamina]

Shaneystar Are your letters correct as i think Decanter is the answer Cant in deer

[kayakamina]

Tony Science may be right but not sure about second c ICES (diamonds) EN (bridge)

[shaneystar2]

Decanter would seem to fit the clue.Many thanks tony .
I must be wrong on 17D then as I have Tenace.Back to the drawing board. Why do I torment myself with this swine of a crossword every month !

[shaneystar2]

Sorry kayakamina ..must learn to read too..many thanks.
The clue for 17d is..
A traditional skill squeezed before one in cards .
I was thinking ace ..making tenace which is a term use in card games .. but have now sussed it.... preace which according to Chambers is a Spencerian word for squeeze.

[tony keates]

Thanks so much Kayakamina and Valerieb for your answers. I also agree with 22a. DECANTER. I'm still a bit puzzled, Shaneystar, over 17d partly because PREACE only has 6 letters while 7 are necessary. Also, with 8d you seem to be a letter short.It's still nice to hear from you!

[shaneystar2]

That is very strange tony ......!! I have mislead you completely. !!
MrS keeps saying I should go and get some new specs!
I meant 19d..a traditonal squeeze before one in cards (6) for which I now have preace.
Just stuck on 8D now.
Many apologies for what I can only say was a senior moment.

[shaneystar2]

Dear oh dear ......I am a letter short on 8D !
It should read ..the letters I have...
?E?S?E?

[Quizmonkey]

Explanation for SCIENCE!

That is = SC (Latin), then EN (bridge players) inside ICE (diamonds).

[tony keates]

Thanks Shaneystar - we all have those moments! 8d is DEMETER, I think.

[tony keates]

Many thanks, Quizmonster!

[shaneystar2]

Thank you once again tony.Good luck.