edge, from start to finish

An evening with a bit of everything, except contracts kept: 34 slips at the table and scores from 111 down to 71.

edge wins by 31 clear. That's not whist any more, it's a parade with a brass band. In front from the last of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about. At one stretch, 7 good hands in a row.

Ana took second with 80 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. 2 hands in a row: only Ana slipped, while the rest said it and did it. The cards were kind to everyone but Ana.

Third, on the podium: Elena, up there with eyes on the top step. Elena got past Mihai at the very last hand.

The tail of the table: Mihai, with 71 points. Somebody has to hold the candle. Mihai was ahead of Elena right up to the last hand. After the two-card hand on the way up, Mihai was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Congratulations to all — see you at the next table!