Start of a new deal

ANTE

Think of what you might put into the pot before cards are dealt in poker—it’s also a prefix meaning "before."

"Start of a new deal" plays on two meanings of "deal." In poker, the start of a deal is when players put in their ante—the initial bet before cards are handed out. The word "new" hints at the first letters (N) of "new," but here it’s just a misdirect to keep you thinking of the poker term. The answer is "ANTE," blending the literal start of a card game with the idea of a fresh round.