The standard flaw on a table-top (9)
I believe the answer is:
benchmark
'the standard' is the definition.
(benchmark is a kind of standard)
'flaw on a table-top' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'flaw' could be 'mar' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'mar' is located in the answer.
'table' could be 'bench' (bench is a kind of table) and 'bench' is found in the answer.
A single letter 'k' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for benchmark that I've seen is " Reference point or standard".)