Takes careful steps in board game, losing last piece (6)
I believe the answer is:
inches
'takes' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with motion as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'careful steps in board game losing last piece' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'in' is within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inches that I've seen before include "Small islands" , "small amount" , "makes slow progress" , "Moves in small steps" , "Scottish islands" .)