Poker hand with ace - I raised initially, behind poker face (4)
I believe the answer is:
pair
'poker hand' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'ace i raised initially behind poker face' is the wordplay.
'ace' becomes 'a' (abbreviation).
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'behind' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'face' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'raised' is 'r'.
The first letter of 'poker' is 'p'.
'a'+'i'+'r'='air'
'air' after 'p' is 'PAIR'.
'with' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pair that I've seen before include "Two ducks in one game of cricket" , "players of duet?" , "Duo" , "Two of a kind, as in cards" , "2" .)