A Safety Play

IMPROVE YOUR PLAY

With Larry Matheny

There are several card combinations that allow declarer to avoid losing extra tricks. This hand demonstrates how important these “safety” plays can be.

Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)

#13-34
Dlr	E
Vul	Both

	1072
	AK963
	A3
	KQ9

	J
	Q4
	J10952
	86543

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	Q943
	J1082
	764
	107

	AK865
	75
	KQ8
	AJ2

West	North	East	South
-	-	Pass	1
Pass	2	Pass	3NT
Pass	6NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

Bidding: South’s jump rebid showed 16-18 high card points with 5-2-3-3 distribution. North wanted to show spade support but decided 6NT might be the safer contract.

Play: West led the jack of diamonds and declarer quickly saw the extra tricks would have to come from the spade suit. This seemed better than hoping the hearts divided 3-3. He won the diamond in his hand and cashed the ace of spades. When the jack dropped on his left he simply continued with a low spade to the ten losing to the queen. Declarer now could win any return and take the marked spade finesse against East’s nine to bring home the slam.

This safety play would give up an overtrick if West had been dealt the doubleton QJ of spades, but hoping for that and cashing the king of spades would have meant defeat on the actual layout. It doesn’t always pay to be greedy.