A Safety Play #13-26

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

A safety play is simply playing a suit in the correct manner. Here is a good example.

Scoring: IMPs (Teams)

#13-26
Dlr	N
Vul	None

	KQJ5
	62
	965
	Q873

	8632
	AJ9843
	AJ7

/images/pad.bmp

	1094
	Q75
	1042
	J1064

	A7
	K10
	KQ83
	AK952

West	North	East	South
-	Pass	Pass	1
1	Dbl	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

Bidding: After West overcalled in hearts, North made a negative double showing four spades. South wished he held a better heart stopper but still made the value showing jump to 2NT. North carried on to game.

Play: West led the eight of hearts and declarer won the king. Declarer counted only eight tricks (4 spades, 1 heart, and 3 clubs) so he needed the clubs to behave. He saw his only worry was if the clubs divided 4-0. If West had all of the clubs, declarer could not bring in the suit but he could handle four clubs in the East hand. Therefore, at trick two he led a low club from his hand. West failed to follow suit and declarer was able to finesse twice through East to bring in all five club tricks. Those who started with a high club from their hand were soon very disappointed.

This type of safety play occurs frequently and is often missed.