Disagreements are one of the things we can count on as being part of the overall human experience, and this is certainly true within any bridge partnership.

Unless you’re playing with a bot at your side, you are likely to disagree with your bridge partner (or the other way around) at some point during your time playing together. It’s how you respond to these disagreements and work them out that characterizes how well (and how long) you can function as an effective partnership.

Here are some of the most common things partnerships disagree on and how to work your way around them.

1. Bidding

Poker games might have been a lot more violent if bidding was considered a part of it. In bridge, however, bidding is standard.

Bidding is also one of the most common snags for partnerships who can’t figure out what the other was thinking at the time.

Bridge partners can be from any part of the world, and might have picked up a bridge convention that is local or unfamiliar to you: Make sure you know a few of their preferred conventions and bidding techniques through a few practice games and an in-depth discussion before any big games.

2. Tricks

Tricks are another common arguing point for bridge players. Usually, with tricks lost being the topic at hand.

The only way to make split-second decisions better is by putting in the time to get better at it.

For spotting tricks to feel like natural intuition, play and play regularly. Play Just Declare. Play people. Play bots. Play on your day off. Play in the grocery store line. Play when you can’t sleep. (And of course, encourage your partner to do the same.)

3. Funds

Money is a common point of argument for any bridge partnerships who might not see eye-to-eye on who should be paying for what.

The best way to get around this is to talk about it and come to an agreement for individual games – or to split costs evenly regardless. When contributions are divided exactly down the middle, there’s a lot less left to argue about.

Partnerships who play regularly should have a communal fund from which things like membership costs and games are paid for.

4. Scheduling

I’ve seen a few partnerships argue about their schedule in some way or another, particularly where they might have conflicting ones and differing day jobs to bring together for games.

Set an alarm, use a collaborative calendar or just get in touch a few days before the game to make sure your partner knows about it, too.

5. Coordinating

Many bridge partnerships have trouble coordinating their plays at first.

It’s common for new partnerships, but also happens to well-established ones at the best of times.

If you notice any hiccups in how well your partnership has been doing, it’s time to work on it. Again, the best advice for this is to spend more games together – and to watch some of your partner’s past games, where possible, to gain a feel for their individual rhythm.

With more practice, you’ll get it right.