SLOW PLAY REDUCTION METHODS

Slow play reduces the enjoyment of others. Be considerate and do the following things at the table. These can easily be done, with practice.

* Quickly and cordially greet your next opponents as you pull your cards, check the vulnerability and see who the dealer is.

* Sort your hand quickly. This can be done, with practice.

* Use a reasonably quick and even tempo in bidding. 

* As a declarer or a defender at trick one, take some time to think and plan ahead. This is not time-wasted. It will speed up the subsequent plays.

* As a declarer, have a plan. Don't pull a card out wave it around and then change your mind. Get organized.

* As a declarer, if you're in trouble, gazing at the ceiling won't help.
Long thinks won't make the impossible possible, unless it puts your opponents to sleep. If you're going down, do so quickly. Be ethical.

* As a defender, don't waste time agonizing over proper signals, when it clearly does not matter.        

* Claiming and conceding. If applicable, declarers should claim quickly by clearly describing their chosen line of play.
Defenders can also concede, if they both can clearly see that they have no more possible tricks. 

* Call the director immediately when a possible irregularity has occurred. Don't dither or argue or self-medicate.

* Save the post-mortems for after the session. It is a time-waster.
Your comments can only be heard by the nearby competitors, not the entire field. This is unethical.

* If the opponents arrive late, for whatever reason, all four player are responsible for catching up. This is an ACBL rule.

HURRY UP AND THINK. DON'T WASTE TIME.

This article is based on selected material written by Bruce McIntrye of Vancouver and Mike Phillips, a California bridge director.