Good safe play

By Djanwar Madjolelo -- 10ptML

Dealer : North

Vulnerable: None

NORTH

(S) void

(H) 10 6 5

(D) K 10 8 7 4

(C) A K 10 6 4

WEST EAST

(S) K Q J 7 5 2 (S) 8 4 3

(H) 8 7 3 2 (H) K Q J 9

(D) 2 (D) A J 9

(C) J 3 (C) 9 7 5

SOUTH

(S) A 10 9 6

(H) A 4

(D) Q 6 5 3

(C) Q 8 2

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Justin Hackett Freeman Jason Hackett Nickell

-- Pass 1H Double

2S* 3H Pass 3NT

Pass 4H Pass 5D

All pass

* Fit showing

Nick Nickell, the Bermuda Bowl 1995 world champion, had the oportunity in the Macallan International Pairs Championships 1996 tournament to make proper safety play -- investing a trick to virtually ensure his contract.

He received the lead of the Spade King in his contract 5 Diamonds, and carefully ruffed this in dummy, in order to lead a Diamond to his Queen.

When this held, as he knew it would from the auction, he left trumps entirely alone, and played off three round of Clubs.

Whether or not the third rounds of Clubs was ruffed, he could ensure that he could lead the fourth round of Clubs to discard his Heart loser from hand.

As the cards lay he could have played on in trumps and survived, because East would have had to follow the third Club, but that takes nothing away from his line.

His caution would have paid off if East had been 4-4-3-2.