DR. JOHN'S CASE NOTES : BLIND SPOT SYNDROME

Every bridge player has this syndrome to one extent or another. No matter how full on they look at something , not everything in the picture is duly noted or recorded. 
For instance when players sit down to play , they might notice which honour cards have been played but remain utterly oblivious as to what spot cards are left outstanding. Hence the origin of the term " blind spot " syndrome. As the condition becomes more acute , players fail to see their partner's signals , or take notice of opponents' discards . Blind spots then cause them to miss out on the fact that they had established winners to cash ,  which inevitably went begging. In extreme cases , victims with this affliction fail to see any of the clues which help flag up the full distributional layout of the hand. 
Sadly this affliction is not restricted to what goes on at the tables. Indeed , the most serious cases of BSS affect those who sit on club committees. Whenever they are faced with a problem , their blind spots restrict their ability to see the enormity of it. Some psycho-analysts equate this phenomenon to having an elephant in the room ,  which represents the cold truth which no one wants to face up to , or recognise. This suggests that blind spots are not random or accidental , but are selective and deliberate , a form of self-delusion and denial.
Further studies on bridge players have concluded that part of the condition is the ability to magnify a blind spot ( akin to closing an eye ) to shut out all painful realities, which would otherwise stare them straight in the face. This ability to avoid seeing the truth suggests that all those suffering from BSS have acquired nearly all the characteristics of either mad men or fools.
In some cases the blind spots relate to themselves , as they do with all of us. " It turns out that we all have these particular blind spots , and the only way to identify them and deal with them is to ask someone , who has a different perspective and who will be honest enough , to tell us the truth about ourselves ". No easy task when blind spots hamper one's ability to see the truth and be honest.
Latest research regarding bridge players with BSS has revealed 4 different types  : 
1. Resisting the truth at all cost
2. Refusing to change direction even when logic and reason dictates otherwise
3. Maintaining a detached personality at all times
4. Avoiding any attempt to find an obvious or optimum solution to a problem
Not surprising then that treatment of this condition has become so difficult ,  special courses have been put on with the aim of increasing the number of psycho-analysts capable of dealing with such awkward and obstinate clients.