Jennbridge: Play this hand with Wayne

I always enjoy a well-played bridge hand, even, as in this case, it is against me!

South Deals N-S Vul	♠ K 4 ♥ Q 5 2 ♦ A 10 5 ♣ 10 7 5 4 3
	N W E S
	♠ 8 2 ♥ A J 3 ♦ 7 ♣ K Q J 9 8 6 2

West	North	East	South
Jenn			Wayne
			1 ♣
1 ♠	2 ♣	3 ♣	5 ♣
Pass	Pass	Dbl	All pass

5 ♣ x by South

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I overcalled 1♠ in the auction and partner cuebid 3♣,  showing a spade raise.  Against 5 ♣ x I led the ace of ♠ and shifted to a heart, declarer winning the jack.  Declarer was Wayne Gordon of Sonoma. How should he play this hand?

Wayne rose to the occasion by crossing to the ♦ ace, ruffing a diamond, then crossing to the ♠ king and ruffing the last diamond.  Now the stage was set.

He merely exited with a club and when partner won his singleton ace he was endplayed.  A heart return could be ducked to the queen for no heart losers and the return of another suit would provide declarer with a ruff/sluff.  Either way he would make his contract.

South Deals N-S Vul	♠ K 4 ♥ Q 5 2 ♦ A 10 5 ♣ 10 7 5 4 3
♠ A Q 9 7 6 3 ♥ 10 8 6 ♦ Q 8 3 2 ♣ —	N W E S	♠ J 10 5 ♥ K 9 7 4 ♦ K J 9 6 4 ♣ A
	♠ 8 2 ♥ A J 3 ♦ 7 ♣ K Q J 9 8 6 2

Either a heart opening lead or a spade continuation after the spade lead would have disrupted declarer's timing and prevented him from successfully eliminating the diamonds which was necessary for the endplay.

Minus 550 cost us 4 IMPs.

See you at the table!