lose at (something)
1. To fail to succeed at some competitive activity. I can't believe I lost at chess to my 12-year-old niece! It's a rare day that Sarah loses at golf.
2. To forfeit something as a wager after failing to succeed at some activity. I lost nearly $200 at poker last night. I think I might have a gambling problem. My father lost our life savings at the race track when we were kids.
lose something at something
to lose a wager at playing something or at gambling. I lost a fortune at gambling. We lost all our money at dice.
lose at something
to be defeated at a particular game or activity. We lost at basketball but we won at football this weekend. I hate to lose at checkers.