The concept of the “jump scare” is a staple that  comes from the world of horror and thriller movies – and, I would think that some time before that, the theatre.

Jump scares activate our senses.

When what’s called a “jump scare” takes place, the breathing rate changes, the heart rate increases, and the pupils react.

People have the same reaction from “jump scares” as the average adrenaline junkie would when jumping off a cliff (attached to a specific type of bungee cord, of course).

Some individuals are more into the idea of the jump scare than others. One person’s idea of a movie marathon could be another person’s idea of a night in the emergency room.

But jump scares are not exclusively related to extreme sports or the horror genre.

When you walk down a flight of stairs and miss a step… Well, that’s a jump scare, too. When you’re about to cross the road and the light changes suddenly, that’s a jump scare.

The classic “jump scare” might happen in many situations.

What about jump scares for bridge players?

Counting 49 Cards

A bridge player’s mind instinctively knows the feel of a full card deck after time, and they know when it is wrong. Counting 49 (or less) cards in the deck is a jump scare for anyone about to deal.

Where could the rest of the deck have gone?

Seeing Good Moves (Two Moves Too Late)

While I do not want to admit that I’ve physically jumped at the sight of a trick that I could have played (and lost for because I did not!), but let’s say it here.

For most players out there I can think of, missing an obviously good move is just too much of a shock!

A Partner’s Mistake

A partner’s mistake at the table (especially when you saw it coming far before they made it) warrants some type of physical reaction from the majority of bridge  players when it happens.

Sometimes it’s a jump scare, but I have also seen bridge partnerships twitch, shake, drum their fingers, and nearly, get their guns out.

Mistakes are a natural part of the game, too.  What counts is whether your partnership will make the same mistakes twice. (Tip: Don’t.)

An Opponent’s High Bid

I go into most games of the opinion that a couple of tricks won’t necessarily win opponents the game. That takes the pressure off when it might happen anyway.

But an opponent’s high bid?

That’s worth a jump scare.

What are their cards hiding? Yu-Gi-Oh!’s Blue-Eyes White Dragon?

Instead of being intimidated by an opposing partnership’s high bid, remember that your team still has the other half of the deck. That’s statistics, and there’s almost always a way to do something with it!

Dropping The Device

An electronic device making its way to the floor is more than just a jump scare. It’s a jump scare, an unintentional expense, and sometimes an immediate end to your game right there.

Would you like to see less of a jump scare if you ever dropped your main bridge smart device?

Invest in a durable, shock-proof cover. Often these guarantee bounce, not impact.