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Percentage play in contract bridge is a play influenced by mathematical factors when more than one reasonable line of play is available. It is a generic name for plays in which declarer maximizes the chances for obtaining a certain number of tricks or the maximum number of tricks when considering the suit in isolation. Sometimes the percentage play is not the correct play considering the hand as a whole as an avoidance play or safety play may be more appropriate.
In matchpoint games, which use comparative scoring, overtricks are very important, accordingly most hands are played simply to achieve the greatest number of tricks possible and risks may be taken to achieve overtricks that would not be considered at other types of scoring.
Against a contract of 3NT West opens with the ♠Q, and the ♠A wins in dummy. In many types of bridge this hand calls for a safety play in which declarer reaches his hand and leads a ♣4 putting in the ♣10. This will ensure communication between the hands since the ♠A has already been knocked out.
However, this is not the percentage play. Approximately 68% of the time the clubs will be found three in one hand and two in the other and simply cashing the ♣A, K and Q will result in an additional trick. This is the play with the highest percentage of bringing in all the tricks.