Partner RHO You LHO
1S 2H 2S 3H
3S 4H ?
Last week at our club, in the middle of the second round, my friend Debbie called the director. She said she had an emergency, could he fill in, she’d be back. She returned 20 minutes later, less distressed than when she left, and finished the game.
Debbie’s urgent departure was because she suddenly remembered she had left her iron turned on at home. She knew she couldn’t keep her mind on bridge until she turned it off.
One of the reasons we play bridge is that it’s an escape from work and the stresses of daily life. For three hours or so, we can immerse ourselves in an activity that’s separate from the real world. To fully enjoy the experience, we have to take advantage of that detachment and focus all our mental energy on playing the game.
The critical time for shifting your focus is before the game begins. A reader recently wrote to me saying he sometimes feels he isn’t mentally “into” the session until the third or fourth hand. He asked how experienced players warm up for playing a round of bridge.
If you're having problems concentrating during the first round, it's often because your brain hasn't made the full transition from thinking about real life to thinking about just bridge. It's beneficial to find a technique that helps you make a clean break and put work, family, dinner plans and other distractions out of your mind.
There’s no pre-game routine that works for everyone. Some people find it a good warm-up to arrive early and start thinking about bridge -- playing a few just-for-fun hands with friends, discussing conventions with their partners, reading a bridge book.
Others prefer to not do anything bridge-related at all. They do better if they don't get to the table until the game is starting. If they arrive early, they talk with friends, do crossword puzzles, read emails.
Performance anxiety can also interfere with your ability to concentrate. I used to be slow to get into the rhythm of the game because I was so nervous about playing well. I would almost hyperventilate before the session started and it always took a few rounds to recover.
It’s natural to feel some excitement and tension before and during a competition. These feelings can energize you and actually make you more alert. They have the opposite effect, though, if they’re so amplified that you become fearful or anxious.
Relaxation techniques can help control these reactions. Some people swear by the “4-7-8” method – breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, then slowly exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds. Another good stress reducer is laughter, even if it’s forced. Try thinking of something funny and letting yourself laugh – or just smile.
One of the most nerve-wracking situations is when it’s your turn to call in an auction you don’t understand. You’ll often need extra time to figure out the meaning of partner’s bids, but it’s important to recognize the difference between thinking and worrying. If you’re stalling just because you’re nervous – or waiting for divine inspiration -- your tension level will increase, whether you find the “right” bid or not.
For these dilemmas, it’s helpful to rely on default guidelines. If you’re truly stumped by a bid, two handy principles are “If it could be forcing, it is” and “If it could be natural, it is”. Apply those rules, make a prompt decision and save your mental energy for later.
To play your best, you have to put the outside world on hold and devote full attention to what’s happening at your table. The first step is checking your appliances before you leave home. Then experiment with different pre-game routines and focusing techniques. When you discover what works best for you, stick with it and enjoy the game.
© 2017 Karen Walker