Merchant who gives players a hand (6)
I believe the answer is:
dealer
'merchant' is the definition.
(I know that dealer is a type of merchant)
'gives players a hand' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'hand' could be 'r' (abbreviation for right, as in the right-hand side) and 'r' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'dele' 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).
'who' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dealer that I've seen before include "putting his cards on the table?" , "Trader - distributor of cards" , "Trader; issuer of hands" , "One who trades, perhaps on stock exchange" , "Merchant" .)