Bridge

Can it ever be right to ruff (voluntarily!) one of your partner's winners with a sure trump trick? I found myself with this problem as West on this deal from rubber bridge.

South opened One Spade, I passed as West, and North started a delayed game raise with Two Diamonds. My heart sank when East (a notorious bidding desperado) joined in with Two No-Trumps - unusual here, showing hearts and clubs. How much is this going to cost, I reflected? I was off the hook when South supported diamonds. North raised to Four Spades, and I experienced another bout of dread while East brooded interminably before passing.

Relieved, I lead the eight of hearts and declarer won in hand. Two top trumps revealed the bad break and South saw that he needed an end-play against East for his 10th trick. He cashed four rounds of diamonds and followed with the King and another heart on which my partner "won" with the jack. You can see what would have happened if I had left him on lead - he would have been left with the choice of leading a club or conceding a ruff and discard.

Awake for a change, I trumped my partner's trick and pushed through a club. After he had taken his two club winners, there was another agonising trance - he still had the choice between clubs and hearts. He finally got it right and led a heart, promoting my jack of spades for the setting trick.

Two questions. Why do I play rubber bridge? And why did declarer not cash a third round of trumps earlier?