It shows pressures are up and the game hasn't started! (5)
I believe the answer is:
ridge
'it shows pressures are up and' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'game hasn't started' is the wordplay.
'game' becomes 'bridge' (card game).
'hasn't started' means to remove the first letter.
'bridge' with its initial letter taken off is 'RIDGE'.
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ridge that I've seen before include "Escarpment" , "Top of sloping roof" , "Narrow raised strip as between hills" , "A narrow raised strip in bridges" , "Narrow raised strip or elongated region" .)