We have all known the misery of playing opposite a bagger -- the player who believes that Spades is all about bags. When you play on the Internet, you never know who sits down at your table -- until it is too late. Still, you must take your chances, just like everyone else.

You're Stuck!

There are dozens ways a bagger can do you in. Every time you think you've seen them all, a bagger will find a new way to cost you your victory. Is there any thing you can do with such a partner?

Here is one suggestion. Do not let your partner win a trick with a queen or lower card. If a bagger wins an unexpected trick he will play actively only until he fulfills his own bid. Then he will retire from play, discarding winners. If you still have to fulfill your own bid you must do it yourself. Expect no help from a bagger. Let's look at Exhibit A.

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

On West's diamond lead, South politely let his partner the Bagger hold the first trick with the J, as he would do if he were playing with a real Spades player. North contined diamonds and South won the K and played the A. East trumped the third round.

Technically, this loss did not hurt South. He had counted on the diamond suit for two winners, and his side had indeed won two tricks in the suit. But a funny thing happened on this trick. North discarded the Ace of clubs! After all, he had bid 2; the J plus the certain A would meet the requirements of his 2-bid.

Poor South! His generosity in diamonds was not repaid in clubs. North-South went down to an inglorious defeat.

We should not waste too much sympathy on South; he effected his own downfall at Trick One. Knowing his partner was a bagger, South had to overtake his partner's J. Without a surprise diamond winner, North would not have retired from play until he made the Ace of clubs, and North-South would have made their combined 6-bid handily.

It Is Better to Be Outnumbered

My second suggestion is essentially a reminder: When there is a bagger at the table, it generally forces the opponents into bagging mode too. You will have better luck with three baggers at the table because only one can be your partner.

Is it ever possible to set an 11-bid with a bagging partner? No, not unless you can do it single-handedly. You must wait for a hand with spade length, good intermediates, and some shape. That brings us to Exhibit B.

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

South led the A, a departure from his normal King from Ace-King lead, because baggers never care about such things. He was rewarded when the Queen, Jack, and 10 all came out on this trick. Next was the switch to a low club. West won the K and continued with the Q, overtaken by East with the A, as baggers tend to do.

East switched to hearts and West took the A and continued hearts. North tried the K, but South knew where he was going and trumped his partner's winner. Now he led the 9, looking for all the world like a man innocently trying to give up a spade trick.

West played low and so did North (baggers always like to hold off the A as long as possible), and East won the K. East played his last diamond, but South won and led a second spade. North's A won this trick, collecting the Q. North still had no idea what was going on, but when he exited with an innocent low club, South had the rest of the tricks and the set.

East and West had several earlier chances to survive, particularly by making normal plays in diamond and clubs. But they were caught up in the bagging rhythm along with North.

Baggers vs. Setters

The bagging strategy is very common among intermediate players, but the strongest Spades players know that game is about sets, not bags. If you must be partnered with a bagger, play his style until opportunity arises. To be an expert, one must obtain the maximum results from a partner regardless of his style.

Regards,
Popsicle