You probably know at least a few players who have reputations as “madmen” (or women). They might be regulars at your local club or perhaps even past or current partners. They’re perfectly sane, but can’t seem to resist playing hunches, taking flyers and, in general, acting on impulse rather than logic.
This isn’t you, of course, but all of us are occasionally tempted to make rash decisions at the table. It might be an ultra-weak opening or overcall, a solo sacrifice or a jump to a low-percentage game or slam. Later -- or sometimes immediately – you’re asking yourself “What was I thinking?”
The answer is usually that you weren’t thinking at all, at least not analytically. Your logical thought process was interrupted or overwhelmed by the natural tendency to react rather than analyze. No one has full control over these lapses in concentration, and bridge experts aren’t necessarily more insulated from them than beginners.
Research in how humans make decisions has shown that even highly intelligent people tend to act on instinct instead of reason. The studies suggest that we’re all fundamentally irrational beings who have a low propensity for reflective thought — evaluating our first reactions, finding faults and analyzing alternatives.
You can improve your mental focus -- and your bridge results – if you’re aware of this tendency and what causes it. Here are some of the warning signs:
A need for speed: The urge to make a fast decision is one reason that players skip the “reflective thought” stage of the problem-solving process. This can happen when you’re applying a standard bidding rule or making an “obvious” bid that doesn’t seem to need further analysis. If you can force yourself to pause and ask a few questions – What can go wrong? What will I rebid? -- you’ll sometimes find a better solution.
Outside factors can also cause this reaction. You may feel pressure to keep up with opponents who bid in a quick tempo or you might be fatigued. If you’re tired or having a bad game, you’ll sometimes lean toward a choice that ends the auction quickly or makes partner declarer, even when your logical self knows that it would be wise to gather more information.
The voice inside your head: When you want to make a bid just because it “feels right”, it’s your intuition talking. Intuition is an instinctive feeling that precedes and often replaces conscious reasoning. If that feeling comes from bridge knowledge or experience, it’s worth trusting. If it’s just an unexplained compulsion to make an unusual or hyper-aggressive call, it’s from your local madman’s playbook.
One way to tell the difference is to imagine a conversation with partner if your decision doesn’t work out. If all you can come up with is “I had a gut feeling” or “I thought we needed a board”, you’ll know you should be looking for a more defensible choice.
Giving in to emotions: Being goaded into an impulsive call was one of the “deadly sins” that was forbidden in the training program of the world champion Dallas Aces team. It’s impossible – and no fun – to play bridge without experiencing the emotional highs and lows of the game, but it’s important to keep those feelings from affecting your bridge decisions.
To do that, you have to be aware of your own emotions and the situations that trigger them. The easiest to recognize -- and probably the most difficult to control -- are negative reactions such as anger, impatience, fear and defeat.
Happiness and victory, though, can be just as disruptive. Mike Lawrence offers valuable insights about these distractions in his essay “Ecstasy”, which was the 1991 winner of the Bols Bridge Tip contest (the complete text is here: www.haroldschogger.com/lawrence.htm).
The best advice for dealing with emotions is
summarized by Lawrence in his Bols Tip:
”Any time you feel yourself succumbing to an emotion – whether sadness,
depression, irritation, comfort, elation or ecstasy -- you should fight it off.
STOP AND PAY ATTENTION.”
© 2017 Karen Walker