Fritzi Gordon

Fritzi Gordon (1905 or 1916–1992) [Albert Dormer 1992. "Fritzi Gordon". Obituary reprinted in Hasenson P. (ed) "British Bridge Almanack". 77, London, p190, lists her birth date as 1905, but both the English Bridge Union and "The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge" (ACBL) lists her birth-date as 1916. Rixi Markus wrote an obituary ("English Bridge", April 1992) in which she said Gordon had died at the age of 86, which implies the earlier birth date.] was one half of the most famous and tempestuous female partnership in bridge. She was the second woman to attain the the rank of World Grandmaster, her partner Rixi Markus being the first. She won four world titles, seven European championships and numerous other tournament victories. Her brothers Hans and Paul Leist became, repectively, British and Argentinian international bridge players.

Life

Gordon was born Frederika Leist in Vienna to middle-class Jewish parents. After school, she became the buyer for a Salzburg store, married Paul Gordon and moved to Graz. The Nazi Anschluss disrupted her life, as it did to so many others. She fled to London, though the details of this abrupt transition are not known.

Despite their shared cultural heritage and experiences, Gordon and Markus were not personal friends. Success tied them together, but they were often at odds despite their success. Their 'discussions' at the table were quite famous, and earned them the soubriquets Frisky and Bitchy. Mrs Gordon was not a bridge author, and her private life remained private. She is consequently the less well known of the pair. [Albert Dormer 1992. "Fritzi Gordon". Obituary reprinted in Hasenson P. (ed) "British Bridge Almanack". 77, London. p190]

Bridge career

Gordon's tournament bridge career began after WWII, and her first partnership with Markus began half-way through the European Championships of 1950. In 1955 they agreed to form a regular partnership, [Markus gave various dates for this notable event. 1955 is given in Markus, Rixi 1972. "Commonsense bridge". The Bodley Head, London. Chapter 1, p26] which became one of the most successful women's pairs in bridge history. [Markus, Rixi 1992. Fritzi Gordon – the champion who was always in control: a tribute. In "English Bridge", April 1992.] The partnership lasted until 1975.

Gordon won the World Women's teams 1964; World Mixed teams 1962; World Women's pairs 1962 and 1974 (placed second in 1970). She won the European Women's teams in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1966 and 1975. She represented Britain on nine other occasions and toured the USA in 1953 as part of the British women's team. Her national successes include the Gold Cup in 1957 and 1961. [Francis H.G. et al (eds) "The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge". ACBL, N.Y. various editions and dates.]

Ewart Kempson thought she was :"our own greatest woman player, [able] to play on equal terms with the greatest men players". [Kempson, Ewart 1960. Editorial, "Bridge Magazine", March 1960.]

Victor Mollo agreed that she played like a man::"Few men play as well as Fritzi Gordon. No woman plays better. But it is with the men... that she should be compared for Fritzi's bridge is intensely masculine and he-man stuff at that.":"Where Rixi Markus is fiery, Fritzi Gordon is icy cold. Where Rixi takes her contracts by storm, Fritzi makes hers through merciless efficiency..." [Mollo, Victor 1967. "The Bridge Immortals", Faber. p118]

Terence Reese thought she was at least as good as her more famous partner::"Fritzi played like a top-class man – like her brother Hans Leist, in fact. To tell the truth – and why not? – Rixi was not quite the equal of Fritzi as an all round player." [Terence Reese, originally from an obituary in a bridge magazine, reprinted in Hasenson P (ed) "British Bridge Almanack". 77, London. p136-7]

References