Cryptic crossword clue
Has to conserve energy in bad game 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word PHEASANTS

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
P
H
E
A
S
A
N
T
S

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The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does PHEASANTS mean?

PHEASANTS noun
  1. A bird of family Phasianidae, often hunted for food.

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