The comeback of Radu

The cards are back in the box. Here is what happened at the table.

Elena closes out the table, with 92 points. "Last one buys the coffee" — as they say at the table. The table was Elena's after the last of the opening eights; the second half had other ideas. The place above was a single point away.

Petru finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 5th, with 93 points. Petru said they'd take nothing in the seven-card hand on the way down... and took some. Whist listens, then does the opposite.

Ioana finished 4th with 104 points. Ioana was ahead of Denisa right up to the last hand. After the seven-card hand on the way up, Ioana was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Third, on the podium: Denisa, up there with eyes on the top step. Denisa got past Ioana at the very last hand. In the second of the closing eights: Denisa said 1, made 4, and the evening was ruined for Ioana.

Second place went to Cretu, with 123 points. Cretu swore 0 in the third of the opening eights and took a trick — whist has a sense of humour.

Radu gathered 142 points and the hearts of the crowd. Bravo! At one stretch, 14 good hands in a row.

Well played everyone. Same table next time?