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 city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. 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.

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 Phi ...

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 Great Britain, British Contract bridge, 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 pare ...

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, formerly the Grosvenor House Hotel, is a luxury hotel that opened in 1929 in the Mayfair area of London, England. Across from Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park, the hotel is built on the former site of the 19th ...

, 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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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 contract bridge players English contract bridge players Bridge players from London Wives of baronets