Players hugging a bridge player before a game of cards (7)
I believe the answer is:
canasta
'game of cards' is the definition.
'canasta' can be an answer for 'game' (canasta is a kind of game). I'm not certain of the 'of cards' bit.
'players hugging a bridge player before a' is the wordplay.
'players' becomes 'cast' (group of actors).
'hugging' indicates putting letters inside (outside letters hug or embrace inside letters).
'bridge player' becomes 'N' (bridge players are North, East, South, West).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'a'+'n'='an'
'cast' placed around 'an' is 'canast'.
'canast'+'a'='CANASTA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for canasta that I've seen before include "Card game resembling rummy" , "Can a staff cook stomach game?" , "Card game -- as an act (anag)" , "Two-pack card game" , "Card game of the rummy family" .)