With the surprise in the plot, don't play fair (5)
I believe the answer is:
twist
'play fair' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'with the surprise in the plot don't' is the wordplay.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'surprise in the plot don't' becomes 'wist' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
't' next to 'wist' is 'TWIST'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for twist that I've seen before include "Cheat (colloq.), dance" , "Writhe" , "racket" , "See Oliver" , "See 1" .)