I thought this was an interesting little hand. Anyway, yes, ruff the opening
♥ lead and play
♠ AK. If trumps are 3-1, cross to
♣ A (LHO plays the 7 and RHO the 8), pitch a
♣ on
♥ A, and ruff the last
♥. Now you can try putting RHO in with a 2d round of clubs (playing him for Jx or Qx), or better, the third round, and if successful, he is endplayed. Making 4.
If trumps are 2-2, we should try to make 5. You can play along the elimination lines above, but simplest, and probably best is to play for a favorable
♦ layout. Run the
♦ 9, playing LHO for the 10. This succeeds as RHO wins the Q and can cash the A, but LHO's 10 will fall, enabling you to pitch 2 losing clubs on your 2
♦ winners. Your play would also have suceeded if LHO started with 10xx, instead of 10x.
1♣ (1♥) 1♠ (3♥*) 4♠, AP