Very hard skill in bridge (7)

I believe the answer is:

spartan

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'very hard' is the definition.
'Spartan' can be an answer for 'hard' (thesaurus). I am not certain of the 'very' bit.

'skill in bridge' is the wordplay.
'skill' becomes 'art' (both can mean a talent).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'bridge' becomes 'span' (synonyms).
'art' inserted within 'span' is 'SPARTAN'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spartan that I've seen before include "Lacking luxury, austere" , "Severe" , "Very strict - austere" , "Austere - like Lysander?" , "Plain" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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