My favorite author, P.G. Wodehouse, wrote, “The Right Hon. was a tubby little chap who looked as if he had been poured into his clothes and had forgotten to say ‘When!’”

No doubt you have occasionally seen your partner’s attention wander during a deal and forget a key piece of information, forcing him to guess how to proceed – but never you! At other times, though, you or your partner will have to guess.

In today’s deal, how should South play in six spades after West leads the club queen? Taking the diamond suit in isolation, if you have to play it with no idea who holds the queen, what would you do?

When North responded with a three-heart transfer bid, South made a super-accept by jumping to four spades. This showed four- or five-card support, a good hand for spades and a doubleton somewhere. North took a shot at slam.

At first glance, because of the annoying mirror distribution, it seems that declarer must find the diamond queen to get home. However, the contract is a certainty if played correctly.

South should win with dummy’s club ace, draw trumps, and cash his heart winners. Then he leads his last club to endplay an opponent. Whoever takes that trick must either lead a diamond, finding the queen, or concede a ruff-and-sluff.

If South must play diamonds himself, he should start with his jack. If West covers or noticeably pauses, he gives the game away. Or, if he plays low smoothly, declarer wins with dummy’s king and finesses through East on the way back.