Mihai never gave up the lead

A game of broken contracts — 41 of them around the table, and scores from 112 all the way down to 57.

The tail of the table: Emi, with 57 points. Somebody has to hold the candle. In the first of the closing eights, Emi bid 0 and took 3 — and Mihai went down with it. After the two-card hand on the way up, Emi was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Nico rounds out the podium with 65 points. Bronze still counts as a medal. The third of the middle eights: Nico bid 6, made fewer, and counted the regrets.

Ana took second with 70 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. Ana spent a long time on the red lantern and came out clean — determined not to buy the round.

Mihai wins by 42 clear. That's not whist any more, it's a parade with a brass band. In the last of the closing eights: Mihai said 5, made 8, and the evening was ruined for Ana and Nico. In front from the first of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about.

Well played everyone. Same table next time?