BRIDGE
Safety plays
Andrew Robson
THE IDEA of a 'Safety Play' is to increase the chances of making a contract at the possible cost of overtrick(s). I have seen many declarers go down in an easy contract claiming they were taking some spurious safety play. The most useful safety plays cannot lose on any layout.
Dealer South North-South Vulnerable The Bidding West North Pass 34 Pass 34 Pass 4NT Pass 64 East Pass Pass Pass All Pass South 14 3*
4+
5, South, Richard Collins, bid spades and diamonds and gave his partner belated club support, thus implying shortage in the fourth stiit, hearts. This induced North to use Blackwood and bid the excellent slam. If trumps divide 2-2 or 3-1, 64 will make easily by drawing trumps. Declarer won the • J lead with dummy's ace and considered the possibility of a 4-0 trump split. Realis- ing that he couldn't avoid losing a trump trick if East held 4J 10 4 2, he led to the 4A. This is a safety play that avoids losing a trump trick to J 10 4 2 with West. East dis- carded a heart on the 4A. Now declarer led VQ which West won with IPA and led another diamond. Declarer won with •K, led a spade to the 10 and king; he ruffed a heart, led a spade to dummy's 9 and ruffed dummy's third heart with his last trump. He crossed to dummy's 4K, drew the last trump and claimed his slam. Because it can never cost a trick, it is mandatory whenever missing Jlihoc of a suit to lay down the top honour that is on its own. But missing Jxxx, you can pick up four cards in either hand by cashing an honour in the hand with two honours. The presence' of the 10 makes all the difference.
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