BBO Discussion Forums: Journalist Leads - BBO Discussion Forums

Jump to content

Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

Journalist Leads

#1 User is offline   PhilG007 

  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Full Members
  • Posts: 973
  • Joined: 2013-February-24
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Dundee Scotland United Kingdom
  • Interests:Occasional chess player. Dominoes

Posted 2016-November-10, 15:18

As I recall,so called "Journalist" leads,the practice of leading the second highest
card in a sequence was much in vogue in the 1970s. Nowadays its rather gone out of fashion.
Was there any merit in this form of opening lead and do any still play it today?
I ask just out of curiousity.
"It is not enough to be a good player, you must also play well"
- Dr Tarrasch(1862-1934)German Chess Grandmaster

Bridge is a game where you have two opponents...and often three(!)


"Any palooka can take tricks with Aces and Kings; the true expert shows his prowess
by how he handles the two's and three's" - Mollo's Hideous Hog
0

#2 User is offline   rmnka447 

  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Advanced Members
  • Posts: 2,366
  • Joined: 2012-March-18
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Illinois
  • Interests:Bridge, Golf, Soccer

Posted 2016-November-10, 15:51

Yes, the lead of the 10 or 9 shows zero or 2 higher honors. The lead of the 10 will normally be made from 2 honors including the J, so from AJ10 or KJ10 or from no higher honors (1098). Therefore, the lead of the J can be from J109 but not from KJ10. If the J is visible, then the 10 lead can't be from an inner sequence. Likewise, the lead of the 9 can be from A109, K109, or Q109 or from no higher honors (987). If the 10 is visible, then the 9 lead can't be from an inner sequence.

Sometimes this makes the situation a little easier to read on defense. But critics would say that this also makes it easier for declarer to read the situation.

Not all pairs that use journalist leads, use them both against suits and NT contracts or throughout the hand. Some like to use them only on opening lead. Some only like to use them against NT, but not against suits. Pay your money take your choice.

I've continued to use them with certain partners against all contracts and throughout the hand, feel they are probably a plus, but don't have any strong data to support that.
0

#3 User is offline   wank 

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Advanced Members
  • Posts: 2,866
  • Joined: 2008-July-13

Posted 2016-November-10, 17:03

they, or elements thereof, are popular with good players
0

#4 User is offline   Zelandakh 

  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Advanced Members
  • Posts: 10,666
  • Joined: 2006-May-18
  • Gender:Not Telling

Posted 2016-November-10, 17:14

Phil, the second highest honour, known as Rusinow, was only used against trump contracts. This is a little confusing because when people talk about Journalist Leads they are usually meaning the method against NT contracts, as given by rmnka (although his description of the nine and ten leads is incorrect). The funny thing about Rusinow is that the method is these days less often played against suit contracts than against NT, where it is very much in vogue. Against trumps, the idea is to separate out the leads of Ax(x), AKx(x) and KQx(x). In Standard, 2 of these would need to lead the same card, typically 1 and 2 using the ace. That makes Rusinow a strong method if your style is to lead often from an unsupported ace. Against that, few lead often from this holding so the gain is small, and there is naturally a corresponding loss of accuracy at the bottom of the honour leading chain.

Journalist Leads against NT contracts are a completely different story but I will leave that for another post given that the OP did not really touch on these.
(-: Zel :-)

Happy New Year everyone!
0

Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

1 User(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users