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

In an intense but friendly game, no player was going to give ground. West bid his cards to the limit. South felt his hand was worth a 5-bid, and so that was his call even though it raised the table total to 13.

Three rounds of hearts produced a ruff for West. Having made one unexpected trick, he cashed the ace of spades and settled back to see if he might make two club tricks. He made none. South took West's diamond lead, played the king of spades, and his side took the rest, setting East-West.

Was West too greedy? Should he have been content to make his bid and concede the rest? I admire West's decision to try for the set, but his actual mistake came a trick earlier when he released the ace of spades. It was clear his partner was now broke. It is not a good idea to surrender control of the trump suit when the opponents are obviously in command. When West is later forced to win the ace of spades, he can then decide whether or not to cash out.