Winstonm, on 2021-April-30, 12:51, said:
The OP stated that LHO played the 8, over to you - so I looked for another endplay with a loser on loser as it was known that low to the 7 would not work I don’t know why you say this is not an extra chance when you have the same guess when the king loses to the ace and a diamond comes back, plus, I always have the option of ruffing the third heart of it appears LHO will win that trick. Of course if I don’t know about the 8 it is a different story ☹️
You cannot use the fact that West DID have the eight of diamonds to go back in your Tardis to look for another line. When you play the third heart from hand, you will have no means of knowing whether East has to win this trick. It will be clear that LHO has to win the trick if his third heart is the queen, however.
I think it is right to ruff the third heart regardless, ruff the club, and then play a diamond. If West plays the eight, you play the king and if that loses to the ace you guess on the way back. You make the contract whenever the eight of diamonds is on your right, whenever the ace of diamonds is on your left and when you guess right. About 87.5% give or take. And I don't think you can do better.
I prefer to give the lawmakers credit for stating things for a reason - barmar