June 2008: Hovering over the Bidding Box
There are occasions when a player needs time to think before making a call and, consequently, both partner and opponents are aware that he or she has a problem but they do not, nor should they, know whether the problem concerns a choice of bids or a choice between bidding and passing. However, if the player’s hand hovers over the bidding box and moves between two cards in that box his or her problem becomes obvious. This gives unauthorised information which must not be used by his partner and, unfortunately for his partner, gives authorised information to his opponents which they can use. Consequently this annoying habit should not be used especially as it gives an impression that the hand rather than the brain is doing the thinking.
