Journalist Leads

"Ten Promises & Jack Denies"

Rev: June 7, 2000

Usually against notrump contracts, though some play it against suit contracts. Purpose is to promise or deny one of the top three honors.

Used when you have:

	A high honor with an interior sequence, or
	A sequence with nothing above it.

Typical hands where a 10 is lead (“Ten Promises”):

	AJT9(x), AJTx(x), KJT9(x), KT98(x), QT9x(x) ----> Lead the 10
	but not QJT9(x) or QJTx(x) ----> Lead the Q

Typical hands where the Jack is lead (“Jack Denies”):

JT9x(x), JTx(x) --> lead the Jack

Other leads that deny hold an A, K or Q:

T98(x) or T9x(x) --> Lead the 9 (can’t lead the 10) which promises either the 10 at the head of a sequence with no high honor, or a doubleton 9x.