jdonn, on Dec 3 2009, 09:37 PM, said:
I do not suppose passing on such hands, or even holding such hands, is your idea of a good time either. But once you get into the habit you do not notice it anyway.
There can be problems on many sequences - notably 1NT p 3NT, where the pause is definitely necessary, because every so often you have a solid suit type of hand and were expecting RHO to pass or transfer, and 3NT is a definite surprise.
The suggestion that players will know when to pause and when it is not necessary is ludicrous. The average player cannot even understand why you alert Puppet Stayman - twice this week a player has had to be convinced - and everyone would have different views. For example, how many people realise that 1NT p 3NT is one time you must pause?