Bridge | 6 April 2017

We all know how important it is to stop and think when defending a hand. There’s just one problem with that advice: sometimes it’s equally important not to stop and think. Every hesitation gives something away — and although it often doesn’t cost you anything, it can prove fatal. I regularly find myself having to decide in a heartbeat — before I’ve managed to work out what’s going on — whether I can afford to pause and consider my actions, or whether to duck smoothly and hope for the best.
 
Declarers who draw inferences from our hesitations are acting perfectly legitimately; it’s all part of the game. You may not be aware, though, of the extent to which some experts do it. They don’t just take note of our obvious dilemmas during the play; they are on full alert for every pause and fumble from the very moment we pick up our cards.