Roua comes back from behind

The cards were dealt, and so were the nerves. Here is the story.

Roua wins by 24 clear. That's not whist any more, it's a parade with a brass band. In the third of the opening eights: Roua said 2, scooped 5, and Cretu and Mara were left counting the pieces. It didn't start well — only 5th after the opening eights — but it clearly didn't end there.

Cretu took second with 114 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. Cretu said they'd take nothing in the fourth of the middle eights... and took some. Whist listens, then does the opposite.

Third, and on the podium: Mara, with 103 points. Mara got past Adrian Gh at the very last hand. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, Mara said and... hoped. It didn't hold.

Neither at the front nor at the back: Daniela in 4th, with 102 points. The comfort zone. The last hand decided it: Daniela went past Adrian Gh right on the line. The place above was a single point away.

Neither at the front nor at the back: Adrian Gh in 5th, with 96 points. The comfort zone. In the first of the middle eights, Adrian bid 0 and took 3 — and Daniela went down with it. Adrian was ahead of Mara right up to the last hand.

The tail of the table: PaulP, with 95 points. Somebody has to hold the candle. PaulP had the table at their feet after the last of the opening eights. Whist was there to remind them nothing lasts forever. PaulP was ahead of Daniela right up to the last hand.

Congratulations to all — see you at the next table!