A cold 3NT

Yesterday’s club duplicate began with a cold 3NT contract.  Alas, it was the opponents who were cold for 3NT, but it was our side who played that contract!

The opening paragraph makes a giveaway of the bidding question that follows, but … what would you call at unfavorable vulnerability with ♠J9763, ♥AK63, ♦K4, ♣Q3 when you hear an auction of 1♥ by LHO dealer, 3♣ WJO by partner, and break-in-tempo 3♥ by RHO? 

Envisaging AK-seventh of clubs opposite, in second chair and vul against not, and a heart lead summing to nine tricks, I offered 3NT, ending the bidding.  A heart was led.

Well, I do not blame partner for his bid, but he hardly had what I was expecting:

This was the whole hand.

The opponents are entitled to five diamonds, three spades, and the ♣A for nine tricks in a notrump contract… whether on offense or defense.

Now, that’s the way to begin a session!