What happens if my partner hesitates in bridge?
A · Advanced · Ethics and the Director · 4 of 6Players may use only information from the legal calls and plays. Anything else from partner, such as a hesitation, a remark or an unexpected alert, is unauthorized. A player may not choose an action that it suggests over a logical alternative. If they do, and the opponents are damaged, the Director adjusts the score.
How it works
- Authorized: the legal calls and plays, and what a player knew before taking their hand.
- Unauthorized from partner: remarks, questions, hesitation, unusual speed, emphasis, gestures.
- The test: do not choose an action the information suggests over a logical alternative.
- Logical alternative: an action a significant number of similar players would seriously consider.
- Opponents: may reserve the right to call the Director later.
- After play: the Director is called if an unsuitable choice is suspected.
- Extraneous information: such as overhearing a result; tell the Director at once.
- Withdrawn calls: information from them is unauthorized to the offending side.
The glossary has the authorized and unauthorized information, the logical alternative, the tempo and deception, the partnership understanding, the adjusted score and the Director.
Tricky cases
Partner thinks for a long time, then passes. Can I bid on?
Only if there is no logical alternative to bidding; otherwise you must not take the action the pause suggests.
Is hesitating itself an infraction?
No. Varying tempo by accident is not an infraction; using partner's hesitation can be.
I see an opponent's card by accident. Can I use it?
Yes, if you saw it unintentionally during play. Information about a board from elsewhere, such as cards seen at another table, must be reported to the Director.
Can the opponents use my partner's hesitation?
Yes. Inferences from tempo are authorized to the opponents, at their own risk.
Why the rule exists
Partners may speak only through calls and plays. The rule stops a slow pass or a remark acting as a hidden signal.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawn calls | Unauthorized to the offending side only | Law 16C |
| Extraneous information | Director may move players, redeal or adjust | Law 16D |
| Opponents' inferences | Authorized, at their own risk | Law 73D1 |
From the rule book
World Bridge Federation, The Laws of Duplicate Bridge 2017, Laws 16, 73C, 73D and 74C. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the WBF Laws of Duplicate Bridge 2017.