Journalist leads are an
opening lead
The opening lead is the first card played in the playing phase of a contract bridge deal. The defender sitting to the left (LHO) of the declarer is the one who makes the opening lead. Since it is the only card played while dummy's cards are still c ...
convention in the game of
contract bridge
Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. In its basic format, it is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions o ...
. The method is designed to solve some problems with traditional agreements regarding opening leads. It bears some resemblance to
Rusinow leads
Rusinow leads is a bridge convention used as part of defensive carding. Rusinow leads are commonly used only on the opening lead against a suit contract; nevertheless, some experts use Rusinow leads only against notrump.
They were devised by Syd ...
but differences exist. Journalist leads were advocated and publicized in 1964–1965 by ''The Bridge Journal''
and were written under the name Journalist, which meant that they were a compilation of the opinions of the entire editorial staff of the magazine. (The ''Bridge Journal'' ceased publication in 1968 when its editor,
Jeff Rubens
Jeff Rubens (born 1941) is an American bridge player, editor, and writer of books including ''Secrets of Winning Bridge'' and ''Expert Bridge Simplified''. He is best known for long association with ''The Bridge World'' monthly magazine, as co-edit ...
, joined the editorial staff of ''
The Bridge World
''The Bridge World'' (TBW), the oldest continuously published magazine about contract bridge, was founded in 1929 by Ely Culbertson. It has since been regarded as the game's principal journal, publicizing technical advances in bidding and the pla ...
''.)
Not only do Journalist leads attempt to show what the opening leader has, but may also request the partner of opening leader to take specific actions, such as unblocking.
There are entirely different leads against notrump and suit contracts.
Against notrump contracts:
* A = demands unblock or count
* K = normal from AK or KQ
* Q = from QJ, KQ10, AQ10, or AQJ; demands J
* J = from J10; denies higher honor
* 10 = from Q109, K109, A109, KJ10 or AJ10
* 9 = from 109; denies higher honor
* relatively high spot = discourages continuation of suit
* relatively low spot = encourages continuation of suit
The proposed advantage of Journalist leads is shown in this deal:
When West leads the Jack his partner may win the Ace and switch to another suit. When the 10 is led East will know to return the suit.
Rusinow leads
Rusinow leads is a bridge convention used as part of defensive carding. Rusinow leads are commonly used only on the opening lead against a suit contract; nevertheless, some experts use Rusinow leads only against notrump.
They were devised by Syd ...
from honor sequences are used against suit contracts. If leading a spot card and wanting to give count, the lowest card was led from an odd number of cards and the third best was led from an even number of cards; if leading from a worthless holding and not wanting to give count, the highest card you could afford was led.
See also
*
Rule of 10-12
*
Rusinow leads
Rusinow leads is a bridge convention used as part of defensive carding. Rusinow leads are commonly used only on the opening lead against a suit contract; nevertheless, some experts use Rusinow leads only against notrump.
They were devised by Syd ...
External links
BridgeGuys description of Journalist Leads
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Journalist Leads
Contract bridge leads