Smooth detective outside conference gets a fair go (4,6)

I believe the answer is:

even chance

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'smooth detective outside conference gets a' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'fair go' is the wordplay.
'fair' becomes 'even' (I've seen this before).
'go' becomes 'chance' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'even'+'chance'='EVEN CHANCE'

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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