HESITATION

“He who hesitates is lost”

During an auction you should try to bid “In Tempo”. In a No Fear bridge club they start by playing about 12 hands in 2½ hours.

After about three months the expectation is about 18 hands in 3 hours.

Eventually you reach club speed which is 24 boards in 3 hours.

The tempo is determined by the club that you are playing in.

On occasions you will find yourself with a difficult call to make.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HESITATE

However, if you hesitate and then pass it makes life very difficult for partner.

	♠ K76 ♥ QT764 ♦ T87 ♣ KJ
♠ AQT32 ♥ 82 ♦ AQ63 ♣ 74			♠ J854 ♥ 3 ♦ KJ542 ♣ AT6
		♠ 9 ♥ AKJ95 ♦ 9 ♣ Q98532

N/S Vulnerable

W N E S

P P 1♣

1♠ 1N 2♠ 3♥

4♠ P P ? P After a long hesitation

The problem South now has is that they “know” that North has something to think about. In principle North has shown 8-10 HCPs with a Spade stop. When North hesitates this now makes it nigh on impossible for South to bid again. If South does bid (albeit correctly) E/W would “Reserve their rights” and call the director after the hand was over.

The director has to consider one thing.

WOULD 70% OF THE FIELD HAVE BID WITH THAT HAND?

Your LHO opens 1 Heart and partner takes an eternity and then passes.

You hold:

♠ AKJ63

♥ 6

♦ 876

♣ 7432

If partner had passed smoothly an experienced player would have taken some action with this hand, a 1♠ bid is not unreasonable.

However if you were to make a take out double with this hand after partner’s hesitation the opponents may reserve their rights.

After the hand the director is summoned and they have to consider if

70% of the field would have made that double.

♠ 7

♥ AK8653

♦ A76

♣ 743

Your RHO deals and bids 1♥. Are you going to bid?

No is the answer. Do you need to ask any questions?

Again No. Are you going to double? Definitely not.

Just pass smoothly and hope that you have a good partner who has a double card in their box.

If you ask questions you are passing “Unauthorised Information”