Hesitations
Definitions and General Points.

• Hesitations are described under laws on:

a. Unauthorised information (Law 16)

b. Misinformation (73)

c. Tempo Variations (73D).

  • Hesitation can occur in both bidding and play.
  • Players hesitate through lack of concentration, thinking about other things, what has happened earlier or about the action they need to take now - a bid or a play.
  • Players and directors need to take people’s ability, experience and ‘infirmities’ into account.
  • It is not wrong to take time to think or hesitate but hesitation should be avoided in particular circumstances. e.g. when considering doubles which may alert partner. You need to be very careful about tempo when following to declarer’s/dummy’s leads.
  • It is to be stressed that this paper is concerned with inadvertent hesitation, i.e. not done deliberately to inform your partner or misinform opponents. Intentionally putting opponent off by hesitating is illegal (7282, 73D2).
  • Law on this subject is not widely understood by club bridge players and can lead to ill feeling if not handled sensitively and professionally.
  • The same rules apply to other means of passing unauthorized information such as asking questions unnecessarily, playing or bidding quicker than usual.

What should hesitator’s Partner do……. during bidding phase?

  • It is a misconception that you must pass if you partner hesitates. Indeed it may oblige you to bid beyond your intentions.
  • The partner of the hesitator must not take any action that could be informed by the hesitation, if not justified solely by authorized information. (16A &73C).
  • If faced with a choice of calls suggested by the hesitation, you may not be free to make the call you would normally make. You have to make the call that the rest of the room is most likely to make, whether you are an expert, average or inexperienced player.
  • If there is more than one equal alternative then unfortunately the director will rule in favour of the non-offenders. (84D)

…………………………………….……………..and during play?

  • During the play, opponents can make use of a hesitation but the hesitator’s partner cannot, e.g. If your partner hesitates and ducks you must not use the knowledge that he has an honour.

What should opponents do if they feel there has been a hesitation in circumstances where advantage may be gained?

  • The opponent should inform others at table that he/she wishes to reserve their right to call the director. This is not an accusation, just an adherence to the laws and to avoid difficulties later. The director should only be called if there is no agreement that there has been a hesitation.
  • If they subsequently feel that the unauthorised information has been used (even inadvertently) or has misinformed them, then the director should be called.

Guidance to Director and Actions to be taken

  • Directors should try to ascertain the facts and enable play to continue. (85)
  • Always work from the premise that any hesitation is inadvertent and not intended to mislead, unless there is strong evidence to the contrary. This should be made clear to all at the table if there is any bad feeling at the table.
  • When play of hand is complete you don’t need to rule straight away; you can decide during the break or at the end and you can consult another director. You must inform both sets of players of your decision.
  • As you are dealing with your discretionary powers, rather than clear rules such as revokes, you must inform players of their right to appeal (12&83).
  • If you feel that the offender’s partner has made a bid that could have been suggested by the hesitation, which has led to an advantage in the score then an adjusted score may be given (16). However if the bid was justified by the authorised information available and would be made by 70% of the room then the contract and/or result is allowed to stand.
  • Adjusted score. This could be:
    • A change of the contract e.g. 4S to 3S
    • to change the result e.g. the contract is deemed to be made; or,
    • artificial score 60%/40% if the result can’t be determined.

The Offender

  • During the play, if a defender hesitates for no valid reason, they can correct the situation by advising opponents they have nothing to think about (assuming this is the case).