On our featured – much discussed – grand slam deal from our Wednesday afternoon Duplicate you have 12 top tricks (assuming trumps are no worse than 3-1). What is the safest way to make the thirteenth, bearing in mind that suits are unlikely to split evenly given East’s preemptive 3♦ opener?

How about winning the queen of hearts lead with the king, trying ace-king of trumps (slightly surprisingly West, the non-preemptor, discarding), then cashing the ace of hearts and ruffing a heart with dummy’s low trump? No good – East overruffs. Strike one.

How about – after winning the heart and trying two top trumps – trying the king of clubs and leading over to the ace (planning to throw your third club on a top diamond)? No good – East ruffs. Strike two.

The best line, pretty much guaranteeing 13 tricks (with no void lurking) unless West has a singleton club (unlikely given East’s preempt) is as follows: Win the ace of hearts (preserving dummy’s king), cash the king of clubs, cross to the king of trumps (but don’t play a second trump), cash the ace-king of diamonds discarding both small clubs from hand (key play) then lead a low club. It will do East no good to ruff the small club (you’ll overruff) – he will do best to throw his remaining heart. You ruff, cash the queen of trumps, cross to the ace drawing East’s trumps), then cash the ace of clubs, ruff a fourth club, back to the king of hearts and enjoy the fifth-round club length winner – your extra trick. Your remaining card is a trump and that’s 13 tricks and grand slam made. No justice but at another table North made 7 NT for the extra ten points and a top. He cashed his spade and diamond winners and watched West squirm, unable to guard both hearts and clubs.