Crossword Genius

Manipulate boards to gain the ascendancy (4,3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

turn the tables

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'manipulate boards' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'the ascendancy' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
an anagram of 'the' is 'het' which is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'turntables' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'to gain' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for turn the tables that I've seen before include "Make a complete reversal" , "effect complete reversal" , "Reverse the positions" , "Reverse fortune" , "Achieve complete reversal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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