Talking Bridge ....

Hesitations

No, not the usual subject. I want to discuss for a change hesitations in the play rather than the bidding. Some time ago I accused one of our number of deliberately hesitating to try to mislead declarer into thinking a finesse would be successful when it wasn’t. Declarer (on his right) led a small card up to AQ in dummy and he pretended to think holding three small in the suit. His reaction to my accusation was alarming. There was no attempt to deny his action, he was under the impression that this was a perfectly legitimate ploy! Furthermore, and this was the bit that really concerned me, he claimed that everybody does it.

Well, as to his first point, Law 73.D.2 applies:

Intentional Variations

A player may not attempt to mislead an opponent by means of remark or gesture, through the haste or hesitancy of a call or play (as in hesitating before playing a singleton), or by the manner in which the call or play is made.

Clear enough, I think. What about his second point - "everybody does it"? Well I’ve been keeping a close watch on this, and I can report that he isn’t right. The vast majority of you don’t. Unfortunately though, he’s a long way from being completely wrong. I have bitten my tongue whilst observing dozens of examples.

In the situation above, declarer is totally committed to his finesse. All that the hesitation has done is to raise declarer’s hopes of success for a moment, but it isn't always that innocuous.

What about the following situation:

A10xx

xx .........................Qxx

KJ9x

Which way does South take the finesse? Well, how about leading the J? West, if holding the Q, might be uncertain whether to cover the honour. If he gives the game away by hesitating and then playing low, South can run the J. Without a flicker from West, declarer will rise with the A in dummy and finesse back through the K9! This is entirely legitimate - declarer is allowed to draw conclusions from defender’s hesitations, body language, whatever, but defender mustn’t try to deceive him. This might seem unfair, but it’s the way it is. So, what if West hesitates here before playing small? Declarer will get it wrong, and has been seriously damaged by defender's action. He should, of course, now call the director, who may well adjust the result on the board.

NB. It is not a defence for West to claim that he was thinking about whether to reverse his doubleton. You’re supposed to know what your carding methods are.

So. Anyone holding their hand up? Of course not! But I promise you it’s happening out there. Up until now culprits may simply have been ignorant of the rules, but now you know!

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