Useful hint about the first game with sticks (3-3)

I believe the answer is:

tip-cat

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'first game with sticks' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot judge whether this works.

'useful hint about the' is the wordplay.
'useful hint' becomes 'tip' (I've seen this in another clue).
'about' becomes 'ca' (short for circa).
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'tip'+'ca'+'t'='TIP-CAT'

Can you help me to learn more?

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

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