Tricks (5)
I believe the answer is:
ruses
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">tricks</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(a ruse is a trick or ploy)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for ruses that I've seen before include "Clever stratagems" , "Clever strategems or plans" , "cunning tricks" , "Stratagem designed to deceive" , "Cunning plans" .)