Paul Gutterman has presented us with an excellent column on hesitating. Now, Paul offers us a follow up with more to consider about tempo and good ethics at the table. Thanks, Paul, for your important insights into this critical topic.
I might add that players should realize that playing according to the rules is helpful for two additional reasons. First, it is much tougher to play against competitors who play in tempo! Are they worried? Confident? Confused? If your tempo is smooth, it's much more difficult for opponents to figure it out. Also, in certain circumstances, if you purposefully alter your tempo to mislead the opponents, you can be subject either to penalties on that hand - or ethics sanctions.
Playing without uneven hesitations isn't easy! But - if you follow Paul's recommendations, this tough task will seem a bit easier.
thanks Paul,
my favorite hesitation story:
Alvin Roth, a very ethical player was once defending 7NT in a money game. The hand featured this heart suit in a three card ending:
North
H. K43
West East (Roth)
H. 862 H. Q95
South
H. AJ10
South had started with four hearts orginally and had to guess who had the HQ. He started by leading the HJ from his hand. West went into an Oscar winning performance trying to make South think he had the queen and finally played low. South, taken in by all of this, also played low as did Roth! When Roth's partner saw that Alvin had the queen and could have defeated 7NT by taking the trick, he asked Roth why he hadn't taken the trick with the queen. "Because I thought you had it", said Roth.
http://www.kantarbridge.com/humor_stories2.htm
Posted by: Mike Cassel | February 10, 2011 at 12:54 PM
Love that one Mike!
Posted by: Paul Gutterman | February 11, 2011 at 09:32 AM