safety play
Risk-minimizing strategy
A safety play in card games, especially bridge, is a deliberate sacrifice of potential maximum gain to guard against a bad distribution of cards.
Rather than playing for the best possible outcome, you play to guarantee a certain result regardless of how the opponents' cards lie.
The term extends to any cautious move that trades upside for security: Taking the sure two runs instead of swinging for the fences was the safety play.
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- card gamePastime using a deck
- contractEnforceable written agreement
no trump · risk · risk management · trump · trick · declarer · percentage · insurance · careful · prudent · leave nothing to chance · defensive · odds · secure · guaranteed · sure thing · dummy · hand
safety playgambling
Betting on uncertain results
going for broke · double-or-nothing · swinging for the fences · hero ball · Hail Mary
safety playrisk-taking
Accepting possible harm
gambling · speculation · bold move · throwing caution to the wind · betting the farm
safety, play, safe, safely, safeness, unsafe, safeguard, safeguards, safeguarding