Here we go again. The ninth European Bridge Championships are upon us, this time taking place in Istanbul. Hundreds of Europe’s bridge elite (and many from further afield) descended for some or all of the tournaments, even though it is usually torture. Four years ago in Tromso there was the Portaloo scandal (don’t ask) and two years ago in Montecatini there was the not insignificant problem of an ambulance arriving in mid-session to revive some poor old biddy (not me) who had fainted from the extreme heat and lack of AC.