Rusinow leads

[Gerben42]

Some players in my club are trying to convince me that playing Rusinow is really good, yet other experts seem to agree that it is most helpful for declarer.

 

I am not so sure, since it's really not common around here so I've not seen many cases in which it has been particularly helpful or unhelpful for me as opponent.

 

What do you think and why?

[kenrexford]

Here's what I do:

 

Rusinow in initiated suit or at the five-level.

 

"Initiatedc suit" means in a suit I have bid (or shown via a transfer).

 

I think this isolates Rusinow to when it helps most and keeps it out when it hurts most.

[jdonn]

I like Rusinow but there are a number of exceptions that are really needed to make it work. It also involves having good agreements about the question "when is a suit our side has shown or implied partner's suit (as opposed to my suit or neither of our suits)" since that is one of the exceptions.

[Gerben42]

Hi Josh,

 

care to disclose the other exceptions? :)

[jdonn]

Leading partner's suit.

When you have preempted and lead a suit other than what you opened.

At the 5 level and up when it's a cash out situation and you want A for attitude K for count.

 

The first two situations are because it's a lead you often make with Hx and for which you rarely hold HHx(x). The third situation is to facilitate cashing out.

 

I actually feel like I'm forgetting a fourth exception I used to have. Maybe it will come to me.

[OleBerg]

Leading partner's suit.

When you have preempted and lead a suit other than what you opened.

At the 5 level and up when it's a cash out situation and you want A for attitude K for count.

 

The first two situations are because it's a lead you often make with Hx and for which you rarely hold HHx(x). The third situation is to facilitate cashing out.

 

I actually feel like I'm forgetting a fourth exception I used to have. Maybe it will come to me.

When the opponents bid 3NT based on a solid suit?

[jdonn]

Leading partner's suit.

When you have preempted and lead a suit other than what you opened.

At the 5 level and up when it's a cash out situation and you want A for attitude K for count.

 

The first two situations are because it's a lead you often make with Hx and for which you rarely hold HHx(x). The third situation is to facilitate cashing out.

 

I actually feel like I'm forgetting a fourth exception I used to have. Maybe it will come to me.

When the opponents bid 3NT based on a solid suit?

Why would you want that to be an exception?

[mikegill]

I have played Rusinow for about 5 years in one of my regular partnerships and I honestly have no strong feelings for it one way or the other. I can't think of any time it was a big win or loss. Although, it does create an interesting (and very frustrating) situation. Lets say you have a holding where you want to falsecard your lead, but declarer might not ask about your carding. Should you just make your normal systemic lead and hope they don't ask? I've been wrong both ways, and it's really annoying (especially when you were right about needing to falsecard the lead).

[aguahombre]

We decided on later leads, when the count and high-card situation is more likely to be known to our side, so, J from QJ or from JX is only known to us and falsecarding is not as likely to fool CHO.

 

Just a thought, not trying to convince anyone.

[karlson]

I think rusinow is a big win against NT, since you retain your power lead and also have the ability to cash a high one from AK. Don't care much either way against suit contracts.

 

(Agree with Josh that you need some exceptions (I just use no rusinow in partner's suit, the one where you preempted seems unusual enough to me to not worry about it, obviously I see his logic)).

[whereagles]

In Ruben's book "journalist leads", Rusinow is introduced mainly to tell AK leads from Ax+ ones. If that's the only advantage of Rusi, I can do without it thankyouverymuch.

[dake50]

What is 3rd-hand's signal to A lead? Attitude as if AK?

 

Does A from Axxxx looking to give a ruff exist? Now what is signal telling? 3rd hand sees the K so knows his message is right OR assumed AK and this message is garbage?

 

Or A from A./Ax expecting Trump K wins then how to partner for ruff? His signal on A lead showed K or Q, as if to A from AK? Suit prefer for entry?

 

Each problem is clear if Rusinow, ambiguous if A from AK.

[OleBerg]

Leading partner's suit.

When you have preempted and lead a suit other than what you opened.

At the 5 level and up when it's a cash out situation and you want A for attitude K for count.

 

The first two situations are because it's a lead you often make with Hx and for which you rarely hold HHx(x). The third situation is to facilitate cashing out.

 

I actually feel like I'm forgetting a fourth exception I used to have. Maybe it will come to me.

When the opponents bid 3NT based on a solid suit?

Why would you want that to be an exception?

Reading thouroughly, I really don't. I just wanted for partner to encourage/discourage when I play the ace.

 

One general disadvantage with Rusinow-leads is, that you cannot ask partner to drop the honour below (by leading the second highest, like Q from KQ109x, asking partner to drop the Jack.) Not very frequent though.