Safety Plays

 

A safety play is usually one which caters for a bad break, perhaps by taking a deep finesse in the trump suit.  Sometimes the safety play gives up an unnecessary trick, and is an attempt to ensure the contract while reducing the chances of an overtrick.  Such plays are more suited to a team game, but occasionally we see a worthwhile safety play at matchpoints also.

 

Related Play Problems          Play Problem 86

                                               Play Problem 204

 

Related Extracts from Past Wednesday Games

 

4	♠ J4 ♥ A63 ♦ QJ96 ♣ J632	From 2nd May, 2007
♠ K6 ♥ J9872 ♦ A742 ♣ K9	North West             East           South	♠ Q75 ♥ KQ4 ♦ KT85 ♣ QT4	Dlr     West Vul     Both
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ AT9832 ♥ T5 ♦ 3 ♣ A875	West    North   East     South 1♥        Pass    1NT     2♠ Pass    Pass    3♥        Pass Pass    Pass

 

Against 3♥ North leads the J♠ which is ducked around to Declarer’s King.  Declarer leads to the K♥ which holds, then comes back to the A♦ and leads Hearts again.  This time North jumps up with the Ace and leads another Spade, won by South.  Spades are continued, Declarer ruffs high, and draws the last trump.  Later, he’ll play on Diamonds by leading towards the Dummy and inserting the Ten if North fails to split her honors.  This safety play guarantees just one Diamond loser.  The end result will be 9 tricks, Declarer losing one in each suit.

 

6	♠ 97 ♥ QJ2 ♦ Q753 ♣ KJ53	7th November, 2007
♠ 85 ♥ KT9865 ♦ A962 ♣ 6	North West             East           South	♠ AQJ43 ♥ A4 ♦ KJ4 ♣ A42	Dlr     East  Vul     E-W
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ KT62 ♥ 73 ♦ T8 ♣ QT987	West    North   East     South                         1♠        Pass 1NT     Pass    3NT     Pass 4♥        Pass    Pass    Pass

 

The auction is straightforward enough, and against 4♥ North will lead a minor suit:

-         If North leads a Club, Dummy’s Ace wins the trick and now the A♥ is cashed.  When both defenders follow low, Declarer can afford the safety play in Hearts, ducking the second round in case South started QJxx.  This is a safety play which can save a trick but cannot cost.  Later in the play, Declarer loses the Spade finesse, but the Spades provide two pitches for the Diamonds, and 11 tricks are made without the need for the Diamond finesse.

-         If North leads a Diamond, things are more complicated.  Suppose that Dummy plays low and the Ten forces the Ace.  Now the trump safety play is less attractive, the danger being that North wins the trick and continues Diamonds … if South has the Q♦ it won’t be possible to get rid of Declarer’s Diamond losers in time.  With that in mind, Declarer might skip the safety play altogether, or might try taking the Spade finesse at Trick Two, losing a trick to South at a time that she cannot attack Diamonds.

 

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All Rights Reserved