North 5 4 K J J 9 7 K J 9 8 7 6 West K Q J 7 6 Q 10 9 5 5 4 5 2 East A 10 9 8 8 7 6 K 8 3 2 Q 3 South 3 2 A 4 3 2 A Q 10 6 A 10 4 The bidding: West North East South 4 2 3 3 West led the 5

My partner, North, bid 2 on his two high cards and was determined to win no others. Thus he was not happy when his jack of hearts held the first trick. He tried to give away the king of hearts but there were no takers. "Surely someone will win the nine of diamonds," he thought, but this card also walked. Visibly shaken, he offered the jack of diamonds -- and he had another winner! Clubs, now. The nine also stood up! North had taken the first five tricks. Finally, I took him out of his misery by winning the next club and I cashed my ace of hearts for the setting trick.

"Terribly sorry, Partner," he said. "I took three bags!" He looked really crestfallen.

"Not to worry," I said, recording the 70-point set. "We can still recover."