A Card Game To Remember

Have you ever found yourself wondering what you did with your keys or searching, in vain, for the proper word to express yourself?  It happens to all of us, but experts say that we can keep our minds sharper by keeping them active.  However, if doing endless crossword puzzles or reading "War and Peace" doesn't seem like fun to you, try getting a little work out for your brain by playing cards instead.

Games like Hand 'n Foot can provide an excellent workout for your mind by causing you to think carefully about your strategy.  There are other games that are entirely dedicated to improving your memory, and some of them are easily played by even the youngest members of the family.  Concentration is a game that fits the bill perfectly.  Many people know this game as "Memory."  The object of the game is to be able to match as many pairs as you can.  The player with the most pairs at the end of the game is declared the winner.

You can buy special cards designed particularly for playing Memory, and if you have small children who particularly love a certain cartoon character, this isn't a bad option.  However, if you are just looking for something to do on a rainy day, you can easily play with a standard deck of cards.  In this case you are looking to match the face values and ignore the suits of each card.  Cards are placed face down on a table in a square shape.  Players take turns by flipping over two cards a turn. If the cards have the same number, a pair has been found, and the person may take another turn.  If the cards don't match, both are flipped back over and it is the next players turn.  After you have sharpened up your mental skills with a few games of Concentration, you will be ready to tackle a competitive game of Hand 'n Foot with some clever new strategies.