Convincing and Complete

In our fervent and vigorous preparation preceding the Youth World Championships, my partner Darwin and I were practicing on a bidding table around eleven thirty pm Mumbai time.  It was lonely, repetitive work, and both of us were exhausted and ready to call it a day. Suddenly, the familiar ping of BBO chat jolted me back to attention as I realized with a start that there was a message from EOK (Koach’s BBO ID) on our table. I rubbed my eyes to ensure I wasn’t hallucinating; however, it was clear - THE Eric Kokish was kibitzing our table. In his typical humility, he asked ‘Is it OK if I talk to you both as we go along?’

We enthusiastically agreed, and over the course of the next few weeks Koach regularly joined our evening (or morning for him!) practice sessions, profoundly influencing the trajectory of not only my game but also my thought process, extending his pragmatic influence beyond bridge into other realms of my life.

Despite his immensely crowded schedule, Koach generously devoted hours coaching us from the crack of dawn through the morning, withdrawing only to give his dog a walk. He was extremely patient - he would repeatedly explain his elaborate ideas and conventions.

Each bid, each card, each decision we made was like music to him, and the master composer moulded our rhythm, tempo and harmony into a beautiful, coordinated symphony. My partner and I would simultaneously be on a Discord voice call, frantically attempting to comprehend each part of his advice.

Recently, I revisited the extensive conversations we had with Koach over BBO chat - which he wisely advised us to save - and email. Although I was despondent, reading his humorous messages transported me back to both the intensity before the Championships but also Eric’s encouraging, witty repartee, which made us laugh even when we were utterly dejected. BridgeBase chat restricted his detailed messages due to its word count, and each day his humorous “battle with BBO till one of us wins” entertained us as we learned.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as Eric’s rigour and intensity of training challenged us and was crucial to our eventual success. Despite being the father of multifarious intricate, modern conventions, he taught us how to think, and not simply memorize systems. He wouldn’t simply tell us how to better our system- he asked exhaustive questions that forced us to think hard. Our age difference didn’t matter; we could communicate effortlessly. After logging out he would send us streams of assignments to be completed and give us feedback over email as well.

Eric's expertise extended beyond coaching; he was also a prolific writer and teacher, sharing his wisdom and insights with bridge enthusiasts worldwide. Long before meeting him, I was a fan of his regular Bridgewinners posts and articles.

Sir Isaac Newton once said “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” Eric Kokish (If not Eric then Koach, as he liked being addressed) was one such giant who I was fortunate enough to associate with and learn from.

A wise man once said ‘A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others’. Although our Koach’s light may have ultimately flickered out, his life illuminated the path of innumerable others, including myself. The powerful, eternal legacy of the master teacher, innovator, convention builder and visionary and his impact on the bridge community will be remembered by generations to come, as his disciples continue to carry forward the torch he ignited.

His teachings, conventions, and unwavering dedication to the game will perpetually echo through the halls of bridge clubs and tournaments worldwide. His love of bridge was infectious; he inspired countless people - in Canada and all over the world - to pick up the game. Eric’s flame will never truly be extinguished; the fiery passion of his life has ignited our candles - and he will live on through us.

I recalled the email my partner and I received from Eric after winning the pairs and teams at the World Championships, which would have been impossible without him. It was titled ‘Convincing and Complete’, congratulating us for our victory. Now, as I look back, these two words actually describe Eric’s life beautifully - enduring, inspiring and fulfilling.

Eric loved Indian food and I promised to cook butter chicken for him, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. The bridge world has lost an icon - one of its most celebrated players and arguably the greatest bridge coach ever.

Today, on the occasion of Guru Purnima, I am reposting this obituary to celebrate his life and the interaction I was fortunate to have with him.

Disclaimer : All opinions are entirely those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the BridgeFromHome Team.