Doris Mary, Lady Rhodes (1898–1982) was Britain's leading female bridge player until the arrival of

Rixi Markus "Rixi" Markus MBE (27 June 1910 – 4 April 1992) was an Austrian and British international contract bridge player. She won five world titles, and was the first woman to become a World Grand Master within the World Bridge Federation.

. Rhodes was from

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. Born Doris Mary Adams, she married Sir John Phillips Rhodes, 2nd Bt. She was described in the June 1947 issue of the ''Contract Bridge Journal'' as "a deceptively dangerous opponent; a misleadingly modest partner".

Life in bridge

With her husband and a Mrs Bosworth, she started a school for contract bridge in 1931; it was called the Lady Rhodes Bridge School, in Tite Street,

Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...

Hubert Phillips Hubert Phillips (13 December 1891 – 9 January 1964) was a British economist, journalist, broadcaster, bridge player and organiser, composer of puzzles and quizzes, and the author of some 70 books. Life Education and early career Phil ...

claimed that she and Mrs Bosworth were the first two registered teachers of the Culbertson system in Britain. Rhodes became Culbertson's chief representative in Britain;

Terence Reese John Terence Reese (28 August 1913 – 29 January 1996) was a British bridge player and writer, regarded as one of the finest of all time in both fields. He was born in Epsom, Surrey, England to middle-class parents, and was educated at Bradfiel ...

mentions that she taught his mother, and gave her a Culbertson Teacher's Certificate. Her career as an international player started in 1932 with matches against the Dutch and German teams at

Grosvenor House Hotel ] JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, originally named the Grosvenor House Hotel, is a luxury hotel that opened in 1929 in the Mayfair area of London, England. The hotel is managed by JW Marriott Hotels, which is a brand of Marriott Internationa ...

, and against Denmark in Copenhagen. Also in 1932, she won the British Bridge League, BBL Pairs Championship. In 1933 she played in one of the most famous matches in bridge history for 'Pops' Beasley's team against the Culbertson team for the Schwab trophy. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Rhodes played five times in the European Women's team championship. She was

' first partner in the British team: Markus described her as "A more than satisfactory partner nda good friend."Markus, Rixi 1988. ''A vulnerable game: the memoirs of Rixi Markus'' (with David Mountfield). Collins, London. p87 Rhodes and Markus won the European title in 1951 and 1952, and in 1953 toured America in a British women's team. The pair twice defeated an American ladies team on this tour, and also won the prestigious Two Stars event. Rhodes also represented Britain in the women's team at the Olympiad of 1960.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Doris 1898 births 1982 deaths British and Irish contract bridge players English contract bridge players Bridge players from London Wives of baronets