On board, it gives duchesses heart (5)

I believe the answer is:

chess

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'on board it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'duchesses heart' is the wordplay.
'heart' says to take the centre.
The centre of 'duchesses' is 'CHESS'.

'gives' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chess that I've seen before include "Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus musical" , "Game involving mates" , "Musical - board game" , "A game of skill" , "Sixteen-men-a-side game" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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