The comeback of Cretu

A game of broken contracts — 38 of them around the table, and scores from 108 all the way down to 51.

Ana took last place without any nerves at all, on 51 points. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, Ana said and... hoped. It didn't hold. After the four-card hand on the way up, Ana was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Third, on the podium: Mihai, up there with eyes on the top step. Mihai was ahead of Elena right up to the last hand. 2 hands in a row: the whole table kept its word, only Mihai didn't — but insisted, with dignity.

Elena led for 10 hands but finished second, 32 points behind. The last hand decided it: Elena went past Mihai right on the line. In the second of the middle eights, Elena bid 3 and took 7 — and Ana went down with it.

Cretu took the game with 108 points and a 32-point cushion — never really in doubt. 2 hands in a row: only Cretu slipped, while the rest said it and did it. The cards were kind to everyone but Cretu. 9 good hands in a row — at one point, Cretu was playing as if they could see everyone else's cards.

Well played everyone — and especially Cretu!