Photo: L. Fisher y R.Schwartz.
Slava Cup 22 – 24 February 2013, Moscow, Russia.
The event is being broadcast by BBO. Click Here for BBO schedule.
The Slava Cup in honor of the disappeared Russian bridge player, Slava Grinuk, has become one of the most prestigious events in Russia. Today February 22 begun the TOP 8 Teams Tournament, with 8 of the best world class teams. The teams, its players and the positions till now:
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After 5 of 7 Rounds the positions are:
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The match Sweden against Israel finished with Israel victory 33 to 8, and 22 of those IMPs were thanks to a Slam and a Grand Slam swings.
Board 17: 
Schwartz opened 1
after his partner answered 1
he stretched his hand to a 2NT jump. Fisher also jumped but to a diamond slam and Schwartz didn’t correct…and how right he was…
Of course that a A lead with a spade continuation defeats the slam but who can blame West when he lead a heart, on which declarer made 12 easy tricks.
In the other table the bidding was more conventional: 
South also showed his spades first, but after that he never could show his wonderful diamonds, so the hand cost them 10 IMPs, although declarer made 12 tricks.
Next hand: Israel again showed superiority in the auction.
Petersson opened the hand with a 2NT bid= 12 to 15 points with both minors. When his partner suggested the heart suit, East showed a lack of interest. Ahlesved continued choosing the club suit and Petersson showed his first control. West didn’t show his second round control in hearts to show his first round control in spades, and East with no interest in slam bided the club game, was his partner who decided that his hand worth a slam in clubs and said 6, end of story. Declarer made 13 tricks.
At the other table the Israelis were much more careful: 
Birman opened his hand with a 1
bid and his partner showed his heart suit. Birman continued with his second suit and Padon showed strength with 2 fourth suit forcing.
Birman continued showing his 5-5 minors distribution, and Padon forgetting his hearts raised clubs. When East showed his first round control in hearts, Padon asked Keycards.
The 5 response showed 1 keycard and the 
A confirmation. Padon asked for the trump queen, and when he heard the YES answer declared the club Grand Slam: 7. The lead was a trump and there was no play just 13 cards over the table to claim 13 tricks.
With just two Round to finish the RR the Butler positions are:
|
rk |
name |
team |
nbrds |
IMPtot |
IMPave |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Bocchi |
Real |
40 |
74 |
1.850 |
20 |
-14 |
41 |
n/p |
27 |
|
= |
Madala |
Real |
40 |
74 |
1.850 |
20 |
-14 |
41 |
n/p |
27 |
|
3 |
Vainikonis |
Vainikonis |
20 |
29 |
1.450 |
n/p |
26 |
n/p |
3 |
n/p |
|
= |
Arlovich |
Vainikonis |
20 |
29 |
1.450 |
n/p |
26 |
n/p |
3 |
n/p |
|
5 |
Helgemo |
Monaco |
30 |
32 |
1.067 |
n/p |
2 |
-2 |
n/p |
32 |
|
6 |
Multon |
Monaco |
40 |
34 |
0.850 |
1 |
2 |
n/p |
-1 |
32 |