sept2016

English 55 The final of the Israel Team Cup took place on July 30 , 2016 . The two top seeded teams, captained by Yaniv Zack and Micha Mark, had qualified by eliminated all their rivals in this knock - out event. They played three sessions of 14 boards each to determine the cup winner. Yaniv Zack' s team, which included five members of the Israel Open Team to Budapest 2016 , started as favorites, but midway through the match Micha Mark' s team was in the lead. In the following deal South had to ask himself a tough question : To open or not to open? Board 3 , Dealer South, Vul E/W ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QJ3 A8 AKQ72 KT8 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 8542 KJ4 4 QJ976 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ KT9 732 T853 543 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ A76 QT965 J96 A2 West North East South Lubinsky Bareket Mark Lengy 1 ♥ Pass 2 ♦ Pass 2NT Pass 6NT All Pass Assaf Lengy saw some positive features in his 11-HCP hand such as good spots in hearts and two aces. In addition, the vulnerability was favorable. After his 1♥ opening, the bidding was short. Ilan Bareket upgraded his hand to 20 HCP due to his strong diamond suit and immediately raised his partner's 2NT rebid to the six-level. West led the ♠8. The contract was makeable by running the ♥Q through West, but this was an anti-percentage play. Instead, Assaf cashed five diamond tricks before laying down the ♥ A – down one. West North East South Barel D. Yadlin Zack I. Yadlin Pass Pass 2NT Pass 3 ♦ Pass 3 ♥ Pass 4NT Pass Pass Pass Israel Yadlin followed the point-count requirements strictly. He Pass ed as dealer and his partner also upgraded his hand to 20 points, opening 2NT. South was able to show his exact values by using a transfer to hearts followed by a quantitative 4NT (showing a balanced hand). North declined the slam invitation with a minimum. Thus South's initial Pass was worth 11 IMP for his team. In the following deal, which was played shortly afterwards, Doron Yadlin had a "moment of inspiration" during the bidding. Israel Team Cup Final (Part 1) Ram Soffer