BRIDGE
To boldly bid
Andrew Robson
RIXI MARKUS was undoubtedly Britain's most famous female bridge player. Born in Austria of Jewish parents she represented Austria in the Thirties before escaping to London when the outbreak of war became imminent. Her passion for bridge never palled until her death, aged 84, in 1993. She initiated the annual Lords versus Commons match and London's Easter Guardian Tournament as well as repre- senting Great Britain on numerous occa- sions, mostly in partnership with Fritzi Gordon. Despite a frequent clash of per- sonalities, Rixi and Fritzi dominated women's bridge in the Fifties and Sixties. Rixi's fiery temperament at the bridge table intimidated her opponents, male and female, and frequently allowed her to escape unscathed after another overbid. After she wrote 'Bid boldly, play safe', a wit commented: 'Rixi, bid boldly to 44 and played safely for three down!'
The Bidding
South West North East
3NT pass 5+ pass 6+ pass pass pass pass
It is unclear why North opened 3NT instead of 2NT, but it tempted South, Rixi, to jump to 5+ despite her meagre assets. North's unjustified 6+ bid completed a spirited auction and West led ♦K. Rixi won •A and, lacking an entry to her hand to take the • finesse, laid down +A drop- ping East's king. She cashed VA (to cater for East holding VC) singleton) and led a • to her queen; she played a • to dummy's 10, crossed to +9 and played a V to dummy's jack. She discarded her single- ton 4 on rK an and led 4K. East covered with VA, but Rixi trumped, crossed to +J and cashed 40 discarding one of her two losing ♦s. She just lost one ♦ trick and had succeeded in yet another outrageous slam venture.
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