Coca takes the table

The cards went out, and so did the egos. Here is what came of it.

Coca finishes on 152 points, 31 above the next — the rest were playing a different game, it seems.

Alice took second with 121 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. 2 hands in a row: only Alice slipped, while the rest said it and did it. The cards were kind to everyone but Alice.

Third, on the podium: Mara, up there with eyes on the top step. Mara got past Vlad at the very last hand. In the third of the middle eights: Mara said 1, scooped 5, and Alice and Ilinca were left counting the pieces.

Vlad finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 4th, with 114 points. Vlad got past Matei at the very last hand. After the five-card hand on the way up, Vlad was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Neither at the front nor at the back: Matei in 5th, with 110 points. The comfort zone. In the second of the opening eights, Matei bid 0 and took 3 — and Alice went down with it. Matei was ahead of Mara right up to the last hand.

Ilinca took last place without any nerves at all, on 88 points. 12 broken contracts, collected like stamps.

Well played everyone. Same table next time?