There are plenty of bridge professionals who believe in flattering lesser players (whether they’re clients, friends or spouses) by exaggerating how well they play, or claiming their mistakes are perfectly understandable. Not so Espen Erichsen. Espen is a great player and I like him enormously, but he’s also the most blunt-talking man I’ve ever met. More than ten years ago we used to play together a bit, and I’ve never forgotten the time I mistakenly ducked a trick in defence. ‘Let me give you some advice,’ he said sternly. ‘Never try to do anything clever. It will always backfire.’
Last week, I played against him at the Young Chelsea. I had a difficult hand to bid, but my partner and I fumbled our way to a good slam. Afterwards, I asked Espen how I should have bid it.
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