Previous word: LITERARY
You said LIBERATE ( - RY + BE )
So I took away an R and I took away a Y.
But it still left another R.
And I'm (regretfully) sober. Trying to keep my brain active to stay awake for Andy's match against Istomen.
Tell me what I'm missing with the letters, Tom. I'm new at this.

"I'm (regretfully) sober"
AHA! There's half the problem right there! To play this game you really should be -- at least -- Partially Pissed.
Yo have to take away 2 letters from the previous word and add 2 to the remaining letters to make a new word.
So.....if you take an R and the Y from LITERARY your left with
L-I-T-E-A-R
Now, if you jumbled those letters around a bit ( L-I-E-R-A-T ) and added the letters B and E in the appropriate places you will get the word
L-I-B-E-R-A-T-E
Thatsa how you do it. Right on time for Andy's match!
I guess this thread is not for me, Tom. On yer'sel son, and have fun everyone.

I used this for the match thread, but somehow it feels appropriate for this too.