Elena never gave up the lead

A game of broken contracts — 37 of them around the table, and scores from 121 all the way down to 42.

Mihai took last place without any nerves at all, on 42 points. In the second of the opening eights: Mihai said 2, scooped 6, and Ana and PaulP were left counting the pieces. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, Mihai said and... hoped. It didn't hold.

Third, on the podium: Ana, up there with eyes on the top step. On the one-card hand, Ana laid down a card and a fistful of luck. It held.

PaulP took second with 78 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. 2 hands in a row: the whole table kept its word, only PaulP didn't — but insisted, with dignity.

Elena took the game with 121 points and a 43-point cushion — never really in doubt. In front from the second of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about. 13 good hands in a row — at one point, Elena was playing as if they could see everyone else's cards.

Well played everyone — and especially Elena!