| 100% | QUEENSROOK | 10 | Chess piece four squares from the king at the start of the game |
| 55% | ROOK | 4 | Corner piece at the start of a chess game |
| 48% | SIXTEEN | 7 | Number of pawns at the start of a game of chess |
| 47% | ROBERT | 6 | King at the start of "Game of Thrones" |
| 46% | ROOKS | 5 | Chess pieces that start in the four corners of the board |
| 42% | NOTIT | 5 | Shout at the start of a game of tag |
| 42% | IMIT | 4 | Cry at the start of a game of tag |
| 41% | NOTIT | 5 | Cry heard at the start of a game of tag |
| 41% | CUB | 3 | Simba, at the start of "The Lion King" |
| 41% | SCATTER | 7 | What players do at the start of a game of tag |
| 41% | ROOKS | 5 | Chess pieces that start in the corners of the board |
| 41% | CUBS | 4 | Nala and Simba, at the start of "The Lion King" |
| 41% | OVERTURE | 8 | Piece of music played at the start of an opera |
| 40% | YOUIN | 5 | Query at the start of a poker game |
| 40% | IMIN | 4 | Cry at the start of a poker game |
| 40% | ANTE | 4 | Stake at the start of a poker game |
| 40% | LIFE | 4 | One of three at the start of a Pac-Man game |
| 40% | ANTE | 4 | Pony up at the start of a poker game |
| 40% | CHECKMATE | 9 | Said at the end of a game of chess |
| 40% | NOTIT | 5 | What some people shout at the start of a game of tag: 2 wds. |
| 40% | COIN | 4 | It's tossed at the start of a football game |
| 40% | DRAWS | 5 | Takes tiles, as at the start of a Scrabble game |
| 40% | COINTOSS | 8 | 50-50 flip at the start of a football game |
| 40% | CHECKMATE | 9 | Winning move at the end of a game of chess |
| 39% | OCANADA | 7 | Anthem heard at the start of many hockey games: 2 wds. |
| 39% | ROOK | 4 | Chess piece that starts on a corner of the board |
| 39% | IMIT | 4 | Starting words from the tagger in a game of tag |
| 39% | IRESIGN | 7 | Declaration at the end of a chess game |
| 38% | ISAFOOT | 7 | "The game __" cried Holmes at the start of a case |
| 37% | VOICE | 5 | With 64-Across, performer who is like the words sounded out at the starts of the answers to the four starred clues |