[mikeh]

ruff and play the spade A and another spade (the queen).

I don't think rho has 4 hearts.... it sounds as if LHO has 7=2 or 7=3 in the reds... if rho were 4=7 in the reds, he might not preempt in 1st chair and, surely, he would not have passed 3♥. Equally, I doubt that LHO would bid 4♦ if he held 8 hearts. However, even if he has 2=8 in the reds, the following plan may work anyway...altho it is not the reason for the plan.

If LHO has Kx in spades, as seems likely, he has to do something that will help me. if he plays diamonds, I ruff and exit the heart Q.. again, forcing LHO to help me count the hand.. if he puts me in dummy, I will ruff a third diamond to better define the inferential count. I am trying to see whether to play clubs 2-2 or to play LHO for a stiff... if LHO shows in to 3 diamonds, I will play him to be 2=7=3=1, and if he fails on the third round, to be 2=7=2=2.

I think that I have an answer to other plays.. he may cash the heart A when in with the trump and then play a diamond... I ruff, cross in trump, cash the heart, ruff a diamond, and have my count... clubs will not be 0-4 in this layout so shortening my trump holding doesn't cost.

If spades are 3-0, then LHO almost certainly has short clubs, and the key will be to preserve the communications to deal with 0-4 clubs... I don't think I can do everything, if LHO is say 3=7=3=0 and continues to tap me in diamonds. Exactly how I play depends on his defence, but I would not be optimistic.