Thousands gather for bridge tourney in North Bethesda

Catty-corner from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in the cavernous conference rooms of the Marriott in North Bethesda, 4,000 people of all ages are gathering this week to play a card game that, for some, borders on an addiction: bridge.

A regional tournament of the Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference began Monday and continues through Sunday, said Bryan Geer, one the tournament’s organizers. There are three games played each day, at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Geer said.