CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 57 910-868-2121 | 400 Westwood Shopping Center Suite 100 | Fayetteville, NC 28314 Building and Selling Fayetteville since 1938 Jeanne Player 910-391-3003 GENERAL CONTRACTORS COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE really have to understand the bidding process and every single thing going on at the table to win." It's fair to call the Neals competi- tive; they enjoy the challenge of bridge and recently both earned Bronze Life Master rank with the ACBL. "Having faith in your partner is the most im- portant thing," Delores Neal said. "It's about realizing your partner is your best friend at that table." e Neals partner in tournaments and for most of their weekly games. Today, they're playing with other partners at the ursday game—one of three weekly games they frequent. Each table moves through the bid- ding auction in complete silence, like a well-orchestrated dance. A er the opening bid is placed on the table, turns move clockwise and players continue to bid until there are three passes showing. e highest bid has won the contract. Now, it's up to that player to take all the tricks they've promised. e partner of the player who won the contract moves into the role of dummy, a silent partner who can't so much as touch cards with- out being directed. e opposing team plays defensively, using their skill and strategy to keep the other team from making their contract. Playing the hand requires extreme concentration and recall. "It's mathematical," Sue Kimball said. At 93, Kimball holds more ACBL masterpoints than anyone in Fay- etteville. She fi rst fell in love with the game when she was in college. "I didn't know how to play back then, but I sure thought I did," Kimball said. "You have to establish what you can make on your hand, so you have to count cards. You also have to know what cards have been played and what cards are still out and in which suits." It's that level of cognitive activity that has caught the eye of scientists. Many studies, such as the 2003 Albert Einstein College of Medicine aging study, have linked bridge with an in- crease of gray matter in the hippocam- pus of the brain, the area responsible for memory. Kimball plays to keep her mind sharp—and it's defi nitely working. As

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