Clubs with bar luckily emptied in smart fashion (8)

I believe the answer is:

cleverly

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'clubs with bar luckily emptied in smart fashion' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'clubs with bar luckily emptied' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'bar' becomes 'lever' (lever is a kind of bar**).
'emptied' suggests removing the centre.
'luckily' with its middle removed is 'ly'.
'c'+'lever'+'ly'='CLEVERLY'

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(Other definitions for cleverly that I've seen before include "Dextrously - astutely" , "In a skilful way" , "Skilfully, adroitly" , "In a talented way" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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