Auto-hide panels - How to reliably close (hide) them?

[ubacher]

Since I  currently work on a laptop with a small screen I make maximum use of auto-hide panels.

What annoys me is that one cannot easily make them hide again once they are open and fixed.
( Example: if you click on the vertical tab instead of just touching with the mouse then the panel opens and stays
open until ?? )
Clicking on a thumbnail will work but this is often a nuisance.

Are there any tricks? Any keys which would force a close?

Other-times I would want the panel to stay open and the only way to do this is to turn the auto-hide off. Or?