Exercise 4B81 Main

Safety Plays

by Richard Pavlicek

As declarer in 3 NT, how would you play each suit holding for the number of tricks stated?
Assume you are willing to lose one trick, perhaps unnecessarily, to avoid losing two.

1. 3 NT A 10 5 4
Table
N or S leads K 9 8 3 2

To guarantee four tricks:

A. Cash the ace
B. Cash the king
C. Finesse the 10

2. 3 NT K 4 3 2
Table
N or S leads A J 9 8 7

To guarantee four tricks:

A. Cash the ace
B. Cash the king
C. Finesse the jack

3. 3 NT K J 8 3
Table
N or S leads Q 9 5 4 2

To guarantee four tricks:

A. Lead to the king
B. Lead to the queen
C. Finesse the eight

4. 3 NT J 3 2
Table
N or S leads A K 9 5 4

Optimal for four tricks:

A. Cash the ace then the king
B. Cash the ace then lead to the jack
C. Cash the ace then finesse the nine

Exercise 4B81 Main Top Safety Plays

5. 3 NT K 5 4 3
Table
N or S leads Q J 8 7 6

Optimal for four tricks:

A. Lead to the king
B. Lead to the queen
C. Finesse the eight

6. 3 NT 5 4 3 2
Table
N or S leads A K 9 8 7

Optimal for four tricks:

A. Cash the ace then the king
B. Cash the ace then finesse the nine
C. Finesse the nine

7. 3 NT 5 4 3 2
Table
N or S leads A Q 10 9 8

Optimal for four tricks:

A. Cash the ace then lead to the queen
B. Finesse the queen then cash the ace
C. Finesse the 10 then the queen

8. 3 NT Q J 5 4
Table
N or S leads A 9 6 3 2

To guarantee four tricks:

A. Cash the ace then lead to the queen
B. Lead to the queen
C. Run the queen

Exercise 4B81 Main Top Safety Plays

9. 3 NT A K 3 2
Table
N or S leads J 9 8 7

To guarantee three tricks:

A. Cash the ace then run the jack
B. Cash the ace then run the nine
C. Run the nine

10. 3 NT K J 3 2
Table
N or S leads A 9 5 4

To guarantee three tricks:

A. Cash the ace then the king
B. Cash the ace then finesse the jack
C. Cash the king then finesse the nine

11. 3 NT J 10 2
Table
N or S leads A K 8 4 3

To guarantee four tricks:

A. Cash the ace then run the jack
B. Lead to the jack
C. Run the jack

12. 3 NT A 2
Table
N or S leads K Q 10 4 3

Optimal for four tricks:

A. Cash the ace then the king
B. Cash the ace then finesse the 10
C. Run the 10

Exercise 4B81 Main Top Safety Plays