| JACKSTOOPEN | Five-card draw variation ... or a hint to 17-, 30-, 36- and 44-Across |
| JACKSORBETTER | Five-card draw variation |
| MEATOFTHEMATTER | Issue's most important element ... and a hint to 17-, 30-, 36- and 47-Across |
| TEXASHOLDEM | Alternative to five-card draw |
| UNRELIEVED | Lacking variation or change (10) |
| ABERRATION | Deviation, variation or irregularity (10) |
| EVEN | Regular or without variations or fluctuations |
| SUPPORTSYSTEM | Nurturing network of family and friends, and a hint to the starts of 20-, 30-, 36- and 48-Across |
| MAKEITADOUBLE | Request to a bartender, and what must be done to the last words of 20-, 30-, 36-, and 47-Across for the answers to match their clues |
| NOWAY | "Forget it!" ... or a hint to 17-, 30-, 46- and 62- Across |
| TRYINGTIMES | Taxing periods, and a hint to 17-, 30- and 45- Across |
| POKER | Card game with variants three card, five-card and seven-card (5) |
| NINE | Ace-to-five hand that is just a bit better than an even shot against a one-card draw* |
| TIGER | In draw poker, a nonstandard hand sometimes given value in a private or home game, five cards 3 to 9 |
| TEN | Lowball hand that wins approximately half the time against a one-card draw* |
| TENS | Lowball hands that are about 50-50 against a one-card draw* |
| STRAIGHT | Five cards in sequence in poker ; word for a neat drink; or, an uncurved or last part of a racecourse (8) |
| POWERCOUPLE | Beyonce and Jay Z, e.g. ... or a hint to 17-, 30-, 44- and 61-Across |
| SKEETFLUSH | In draw poker, nonstandard hand sometimes given value in a home game, five cards containing a 9, 5, |
| STUDPOKER | "Five-card" or "seven-card" game |
