Crossword Genius

Betting three keys and a shovel (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spade

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'shovel' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'betting three keys and a' is the wordplay.
'betting' becomes 'sp'.
'three keys' becomes 'de' (I've seen this in other clues. I am not sure about the 'three' bit.**).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'de' put after 'a' is 'ade'.
'sp'+'ade'='SPADE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spade that I've seen before include "Small shovel" , "Fictional detective" , "home in Kent" , "Garden tool and card suit" , "Black leaf-shaped symbol on playing card" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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