[Shugart23]

So today my partner paused in the bidding to think and then after a bit passed. Clearly was thinking something . My RHO passes and I didn’t really have a bid and even so felt the pause was too long and would have passed anyway. But afterward, this got me thinking. I assume if I have an obvious legitimate bid, I can make it regardless of the pause . Is that true? If RHO makes a bid, instead of a pass, can I bid ? If no, and bid comes around to me a second time, must I maintain my vow of silence? Would someone take a minute and explain?

[Cyberyeti]

Basically if you have an obvious bid/call with no alternative - you can make it.

If you have alternatives, you have to bend over backwards to choose the one that is NOT suggested by the hesitation.

[pescetom]

Shugart23, on 2024-December-22, 15:43, said:

So today my partner paused in the bidding to think and then after a bit passed. Clearly was thinking something . My RHO passes and I didn’t really have a bid and even so felt the pause was too long and would have passed anyway.

If you read what you wrote carefully, I think you already had a good idea of the answer. "I didn’t really have a bid and even so felt the pause was too long"... you recognise that only the unauthorized information of the pause might suggest you bid, the consequence should be clear. Had you had an obvious bid, it would remain legitimate only if you have no alternative.