Tries to take first of tricks in card game (6)
I believe the answer is:
hearts
'card game' is the definition.
(hearts is a kind of card game)
'tries to take first of tricks' is the wordplay.
'tries' becomes 'hears' (as in trying or hearing in a trial).
'to take' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are taken in).
'first of tricks' becomes 't' (1st letter of 'tricks').
'hears' placed around 't' is 'HEARTS'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for hearts that I've seen before include "Body pumps" , "Vital organs in the pack" , "Soccer club" , "Cores" , "Central parts" .)