Bridging the gap to Grand Life Master

  • Published
  • By David R. Hopper
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  With its history and the presence of such important units like U.S. Strategic Command and the 55th Wing, Offutt has had its share of individuals through the years who have truly stood out among their peers as being gifted in strategy.

Currently, there is currently an individual in the 55th Force Support Squadron who is also gifted in strategy - of a different kind.

His name is Pierre Flatowicz and he is well known around Offutt as the guy that deals with the vendors from the Defenders of Freedom Air Show, but to people in the game of Bridge he is a Platinum Life Master.

Hearing the game of bridge may have put a smile on your face like this is a joke, but then again you probably have never played against a Platinum Life Master. The Platinum Life Master is the second highest rank and the top of the list is the coveted Grand Life Master.

"People are what make this game so fascinating, the personalities of bridge players are so intriguing and interesting," Flatowicz said. "What I like most about bridge is the many friendships I have made over the years meeting so many wonderful people to include competitors at the highest level."

Flatowicz currently has a ranking of 479 out of more than 166,600 members in the American Contract Bridge League. He has won more than 145 Regional tournaments, 75 Sectional tournaments and has come in the overalls 10 times in national tournaments. So far, his best finish in a national tournament was second place but in the game of Bidding, Contracts, Declarers and Dummy's, Flatowicz is shooting for the National Tournament championship in St. Louis in March 2013.

"My future plans in bridge are to achieve Grand Master status and win a national event which is very difficult but achievable," Flatowicz said. "I plan on teaching Bridge classes when I retire, play in more bridge tournaments and play professionally."

Flatowicz is not the only one in his house that appreciates the game of bridge, his wife Claire does also.

"My wonderful wife of 12 years, Claire, plays bridge a great deal and is a Silver Life Master with almost 1,700 masterpoints," Flatowicz said. "We talk about bridge hands a great deal, she peppers me with questions on what I would do holding a certain bridge hand. She is the perfect person to play bridge with since she is so kind and enjoys playing bridge regardless of the result at the table."

With more than 10,500 masterpoints, Flatowicz has achieved more than the majority of his peers in the game of bridge. As for bridging the gap from Platinum Life Master to Grand Life Master all Team Offutt can do is sit back and wish him luck.