[sceptic]

Scoring: IMP

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West North East South

 Pass  1♥    Pass  2♦
 Pass  3♣    Pass  4♣
 Pass  4NT   Pass  5♥
 Pass  7♣    Pass  Pass
 Pass  

what is the best play for 7 clubs and can I have your thoughts if I had bid 7NT as I was considering it

I was North

[temp3600]

I would cash two top clubs, or one if the lead was a trump. Now :

If clubs are 3-2 and the SA is still in dummy, i pull the last trump and play on diamonds, hoping for a 3-2 break.
If clubs are 3-2, the SA is gone but the CJ fell (as is the case here on a spade lead), i cash the DK, pull the last trump while ending in dummy, and again play on diamonds.
If clubs are 3-2, the SA is gone and the CJ did not fall, i plan to ruff two hearts in dummy, hoping for a 4-3 break in the suit, and discard the spade loser on the DA. This line requires a 4-3 heart break, and that the defender with Jxx also holds three diamonds. It would work here if West had started with CJxx and had the SA been removed on the first trick.
If clubs are 4-1, i don't think i can make.

As to 7NT, i think it's a no no. We know that we are misfitted in hearts in diamonds, so we are going to need trumps to set up some tricks from lenght in these suits, or to crossruff. Partner has only shown 10+ HCP ; if he is minimum for his bid with an ordinary hand, 7NT will have no play.

A thought : if we are interested in 7NT, maybe 5NT asking for kings is a good idea. First, if partner has a good diamond suit (KQJTxx for example), he'll probably bid 7NT himself. Secondly, we have all four kings, so when we bid 7C after hearing partner's "i don't have any kings", he should understand that we are offering him a choice between 7C and 7NT. This is probably only available when playing 3041.

[pclayton]

Just set up the hearts and pitch the spade on the A♦. Assume spade lead. Win Ace, ♦ to K, ♥ ruff, A♦ (spade), club to hand, ruff heart, club to hand, claim.