OpenEuphoria

I've always done this

if open database fails then 
  if create database fails then 
    fatal/abort/message/return 
  end if 
end if 
-- There is technically no need to select the database here, though it is wise 
-- and costs little to do so at the start of any code block accessing the db. 
if select table fails then 
  if create table fails then 
    fatal/abort/message/return 
  end if 
end if 
-- read/write/close/whatever