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

"Do you still have it in for bag avoiders?" "Not at all," I replied. "They are my favorite sort of opponents."

This ordinary deal yielded a table total of 11, which meant two bags were at stake. I led the jack of hearts and was surprised when it held, but knew enough to lead hearts again. Pard won and played a third heart ruffed by West. Having won a surprise trump trick and expecting to make another spade, West showed no interest in trying to win the queen of clubs. Why deliberately try for bags? West took his ace and exited with the ten of diamonds, covered with the queen, king and ace. I cashed my king of clubs and played the eight of diamonds.

West played low; I don't know why Pard let this ride, but he did and it held. A third diamond went to his jack, and he gave me a club ruff. If you haven't been keeping count, that's seven tricks. Pard still had the trump ace for the eighth and setting trick.

Sure, we got lucky in diamonds. But the criminal was West. He had to maintain his club strength for as long as possible to find out whether his side needed a second club trick. He insists on playing Spades his own way, dodging bags; and probably always will.