safety play
noun
1 Billiards, Snooker, and Pool the aspect of the game in which a player attempts not to score points but rather to leave the balls in such a position that his or her opponent will be unable to score with the next shot; compare sense 6a.
2 Bridge a play that risks the loss of a trick in order to safeguard against losing the contract.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The New York Times.