Daniel Hoekstra – Platinum Life Master

In 1968, I sat in a college café called, “ The Hungry I” in Portland, Oregon, and kibbitzed a foursome who were playing bridge.  I had played a lot of pinochle and was fascinated by this bidding and trick-taking game, so when I was asked to replace a player who left, I agreed and we played from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.  I was hooked.  
 
I read Goren’s book from cover to cover several times and tried to learn the game on my own with some success and not until twenty years later did I seek help from various people including Tony Glynne, Troy Horton, Jade Barrett, Bjorgvin Kristinsson and Roger McNay, who took me on a tour and brought me kicking and screaming into dimensions of the game that I never knew existed.
 
I traveled a lot in my work and played duplicate games in many church basements all over Oregon and other states.  I came to love it more and more as I started going to Nationals where I learned to play at higher levels with occasional success.  Bridge is the greatest game and it has given me great pleasure.  I thank all my partners past and present, with a special shout-out to Stephen Peel of Portland, my current partner and one of many friends I have made in the bridge world.
 
Daniel

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