@jam = $ham =~ m/\t([^\t]+)\t+([^\t]+)\t+([^\t]+)/;;

print @jam;;
spam spam yam

##</code><code>##

( $jam ) = $ham =~ m/^[^\t]*\t[^\t]*((?:\t[^\t]*){3})\t[^\t]*$/;;
@jam = split /\t+/, $jam;;

print @jam;;
spam yam