“You are always learning, every hand is different, presenting new challenges.”

George Back loves playing bridge and teaches the game. “It keeps your mental faculties active. It is very logical and analytical. It is different every night.”

As lead teacher with Bradford Bridge Club, he instructs beginners, improvers and established players. He teaches up to 20 people at a time in his daytime classes.

“The classes were set up to introduce people to the club,” he says, “Many people have become seasoned players.”

George began playing as a student , then did not play for around 30 years, returning to the game six years ago. “it took me a year or so to pick it up again,” he says. “You have to learn methods and procedures, and much had changed so I had to learn a lot again.”

Bridge is known as ‘the game for a lifetime’ as no matter how many years you play, the learning process never ends. It is one of the few games that stimulates both the left and right sides of your brain. Every time you play you use, and improve, your skills in communication, logic, mathematics, memory, visualisation and psychology.

Research has shown that playing this fast-paced game boosts the immune system and other studies have found that people who play are two- and-a -half times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

The British playwright and novelist W Somerset Maugham said the game “is the most entertaining and intelligent card game the wit of man has so far devised,” while the American businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett commented that bridge “is such a sensational game that I wouldn’t mind being in jail if I had three cell mates who were decent players and who were willing to keep the game going 24 hours a day.”

Omar Sharif, who died last month aged 83, often spoke about his love of bridge. He said: “Many games provide fun, but bridge grips you. It exercises your mind. Your mind can rust, you know, but bridge prevents the rust from forming.” The Hollywood icon was such an expert he wrote a book about it.

Played with a deck of cards and four people, bridge is a very social game, involving communication and cooperation with a partner.

Bradford Bridge Club has around 200 members. They are mainly elderly although the game can be played by people of all ages. It has been introduced at some schools across the UK as the skills it uses can help youngsters in many areas of learning such as mathematics and psychology. It also aids concentration.

Club secretary Susan Hoyle has been a member for around 20 years and loves the game. “You can play at any level you wish. It does not have to be played at a high level to be enjoyed - so long as you can grasp the basic fundamentals you will be fine. You don’t have to learn every aspect.”

Some members have been attending the club for many years. “It is a game that you can play forever,” says Susan. “We have players who are enjoying bridge into their eighties and nineties.”

The club competes regionally, with its top team playing in one of the UK’s most successful county leagues.

“It is known for being good mental exercise," adds Susan.

The club has a bar and refreshment room “We play a few boards and then break for a cup of tea and a biscuit,” says Susan.

Members enjoy social events throughout the year including informal supper nights, and tickets for its Christmas party are much sought after.

“It is a very friendly club and people have made good friends through playing.” adds Susan.

*Based in a spacious Victorian building in Mornington Villas, off Manningham Lane, the club holds afternoon drives on Tuesday and Thursday, and on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Details from bradfordbridgeclub.org; 01274 543100