Preparing your mind

Here at the Reno NABC, most of the national championship events are pair games. No six-man teams, no time to rest, just a lot of thinking, hand after hand after hand, all day long. It's taxing. Some folks prepare to warm up by playing the morning session, or relax before game time by sleeping in. I've tried these methods, and they're acceptable, but I often feel fatigued by the second half of the day.

This tournament, I'm sleeping in a little each day and going to the gym before the afternoon session. Studies that I'm too lazy to google have shown conclusively that exercise improves brain function. It's no surprise to me that I run into many of the top bridge players here in the gym each morning. I feel like a good hard workout clears my mind and prepares me for the hard thinking I'll have to do for the rest of the day. It gives me the energy and stamina I need to stay sharp all day. And when I exercise before a game, I spend less time looking around the playing area and worrying that one day I'll start to look like the average bridge player...

Good luck to everyone competing here in Reno!