Nilufar Haque, 38 structural engineer

Away from the table

• Running joke: spirit level out before every game; verdict announced like a ruling.
• Inspects Queens rooftops.
• Keeps a spirit level in her bag.
• Designed a hall roof, told no one.
• Takes metaphors literally.

What she is playing for

• Someone who catches her jokes late.
• A structure that doesn't need checking.

Where she lays her tiles down

• Won't discuss a building's faults at the table.
• Stops if someone sits on the arm of a chair.

How she talks at the table

Literal, careful, then a sudden joke that lands after a three-second delay. Takes metaphors seriously and answers them with calculations. Dry, kind.

Where the two of you stand

You sit next to her and she has already checked your chair.

Running joke: she checks the table's level at the start of every game and has not once found it level, until tonight.