Nico Gardener
Encyclopedia
Nico Gardener was a British international bridge player, born in Riga
, Latvia
(then part of Imperial Russia).
After the Russian Revolution (1917) his family moved to the Ukraine
, and then to Moscow
, where he trained as a ballet dancer. He later moved to Berlin
, where he read languages and history at Berlin University, and played chess rather than bridge. He moved to London
in 1936, where his bridge career began. His father had been a banker, but in Germany the family became timber merchants. The family name was Goldinger; Nico's change to Gardener was a later decision, after he settled in London. He became a naturalised British citizen in due course.
, Louis Tarlo, Iain MacLeod
and Adam Meredith
. As a tournament player he won World Mixed Teams in 1962 with Boris Schapiro
, Rixi Markus
and Fritzi Gordon
. He won the European Championship twice out of five attempts, and competed in two Bermuda Bowl
s (1950 and 1962) and the 1960 Olympiad.
In domestic bridge he won the Gold Cup
six times, and the Waddington Master Pairs in 1953. He won the Sunday Times Invitational Pairs in 1970 with Tony Priday
; this prestigious tournament featured some of the world's strongest partnerships. He also played rubber bridge for many years at Lederer's club and at his own London School of Bridge.
Gardener was married, and became the father of Nicola Smith
(b. 1949), the leading British woman player of the l975–1995 period. His wife, Pat Gardener (c.1920–1988), was also an international player: she played in four European women's championships.
Nico founded the London School of Bridge in 1952 in the King's Road
, Chelsea
, above a frock shop. There he supervised the bridge teaching and the rubber bridge rooms where beginners could practice at the game for small stakes. The teachers were some of the best players in the country, and there were about 2000 students each year. The school survived his death, but no longer exists. Another of Nico's ventures was the bridge cruise, of which he was an early promoter. Each summer would find him hosting on a Mediterranean cruise ship, conducting lessons and practice in four or five different languages, and accompanied by an attractive assistant.
Gardener had a partnership with the outstanding bridge author Victor Mollo
, and two classic bridge books resulted:
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
(then part of Imperial Russia).
After the Russian Revolution (1917) his family moved to the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and then to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where he trained as a ballet dancer. He later moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he read languages and history at Berlin University, and played chess rather than bridge. He moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1936, where his bridge career began. His father had been a banker, but in Germany the family became timber merchants. The family name was Goldinger; Nico's change to Gardener was a later decision, after he settled in London. He became a naturalised British citizen in due course.
Career
His partners in competition bridge included some of the great players of the day, such as Pedro Juan, Victor MolloVictor Mollo
Victor Mollo was a British bridge journalist and writer. He is most famous for his "Bridge in the Menagerie" series of books, depicting vivid characters of bridge players with animal names through a series of exciting and entertaining deals, bridge fables of a sort.-Biography:Mollo was born in St....
, Louis Tarlo, Iain MacLeod
Iain Macleod
Iain Norman Macleod was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister.-Early life:...
and Adam Meredith
Adam Meredith
Adam 'Plum' Meredith was a British professional bridge player. His origin was in County Down, Ireland. He was a key member of the British team which won the Bermuda Bowl in 1955. He won the European Championship in 1949 and 1954, and also played in 1955, 1957 and 1959...
. As a tournament player he won World Mixed Teams in 1962 with Boris Schapiro
Boris Schapiro
Boris Schapiro was a British international bridge player. He was a Grandmaster of the World Bridge Federation, and the only player to have won both the Bermuda Bowl and the World Senior Pairs championship...
, Rixi Markus
Rixi Markus
Rixi Markus MBE 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...
and Fritzi Gordon
Fritzi Gordon
Fritzi Gordon was one half of the most famous and tempestuous female partnership in bridge. She was the second woman to attain the rank of World Grand Master, her partner Rixi Markus being the first. She won four world titles, seven European championships and numerous other tournament victories...
. He won the European Championship twice out of five attempts, and competed in two Bermuda Bowl
Bermuda Bowl
The Bermuda Bowl is a trophy awarded to the winners of the Open series in the World Team Championship in contract bridge and is named for the site of the inaugural tournament held in 1950...
s (1950 and 1962) and the 1960 Olympiad.
In domestic bridge he won the Gold Cup
Gold Cup
Gold Cup may refer to:In art and archaeology:* Royal Gold Cup, 14th century French cup in the British Museum* Rillaton Gold Cup, late Neolithic, from Rillaton Barrow in England* Ringlemere Cup, Bronze Age from EnglandIn horse racing:...
six times, and the Waddington Master Pairs in 1953. He won the Sunday Times Invitational Pairs in 1970 with Tony Priday
Tony Priday
Richard Anthony Priday is an English bridge player and journalist, who had a longstanding and successful partnership with Claude Rodrigue...
; this prestigious tournament featured some of the world's strongest partnerships. He also played rubber bridge for many years at Lederer's club and at his own London School of Bridge.
Gardener was married, and became the father of Nicola Smith
Nicola Smith
Nicola Smith MBE has been a leading English bridge player for over thirty years, with many successes in international competition to her credit. She was a member of the British teams which won the Venice Cup, the women's world championship, in 1981 and 1985, and which finished second in 1976...
(b. 1949), the leading British woman player of the l975–1995 period. His wife, Pat Gardener (c.1920–1988), was also an international player: she played in four European women's championships.
Nico founded the London School of Bridge in 1952 in the King's Road
Kings Road
King's Road or Kings Road, known popularly as The King's Road or The KR, is a major, well-known street stretching through Chelsea and Fulham, both in west London, England...
, Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, above a frock shop. There he supervised the bridge teaching and the rubber bridge rooms where beginners could practice at the game for small stakes. The teachers were some of the best players in the country, and there were about 2000 students each year. The school survived his death, but no longer exists. Another of Nico's ventures was the bridge cruise, of which he was an early promoter. Each summer would find him hosting on a Mediterranean cruise ship, conducting lessons and practice in four or five different languages, and accompanied by an attractive assistant.
Gardener had a partnership with the outstanding bridge author Victor Mollo
Victor Mollo
Victor Mollo was a British bridge journalist and writer. He is most famous for his "Bridge in the Menagerie" series of books, depicting vivid characters of bridge players with animal names through a series of exciting and entertaining deals, bridge fables of a sort.-Biography:Mollo was born in St....
, and two classic bridge books resulted:
- Mollo, Victor and Nico Gardener 1955. Card play technique. Newnes, London.
- Mollo, Victor and Nico Gardener 1956. Bridge for beginners. Barnes, London.