Drury
Drury is a conventional 2
response by a passed hand after partner opens 1
or 1
in third or fourth seat. The 2
bid is artificial, showing a limit raise with 10-12 support points and 3+ card support.
Playing Drury, responder can keep the bidding low at the 2-level instead of making a jump raise. Since many partnerships open light in third or fourth seat, responder wants to bid conservatively opposite a weak hand.
Opener's Rebids
After opening 1
and hearing a 2 response, opener's rebids are:
2 | A sub-minimum hand (10-12 points) |
| 2 | A normal opening bid (12+ points) |
| Natural, with normal opening values (12+ points) |
and hearing 2:
| 2 | A sub-minimum hand |
| 2 | Natural, 4+ hearts, but does not guarantee a full opening bid |
| 2 | A normal opening bid |
| Natural, with at least normal opening values |
Examples
| North | South | |||||
| 864 | AJ92 | |||||
| AKT | QJ987 | |||||
 A752 | 6 | |||||
| T83 | QJ2 | |||||
Pass Pass Pass |
North Pass 2 (1)2 (3) |
Pass Pass All Pass |
South 1 2 (2) |
- Drury, showing 3+ hearts and 10-12 points.
- Showing minimum strength.
- Signing off.
| North | South | |||||
| K864 | AJ952 | |||||
| K6 | A98 | |||||
| A752 | KQ6 | |||||
| T83 | 92 | |||||
Pass Pass Pass All Pass |
North Pass 2 (1)3 (3) |
Pass Pass Pass |
South 1 2 (2)4 (4) |
- Drury, showing 3+ spades and 10-12 points.
- Showing a sound opening bid.
- A natural help-suit game try.
- Bidding game with good diamonds.
In Competition
If 1 or 1 is doubled or overcalled, Drury is on if 2 is an available bid for responder. Examples:
Pass 2 |
North Pass |
1 |
South Double |
Pass 2 |
North Pass |
1 |
South 1 |
If the Drury 2 is doubled, Drury is on if 2 is an available bid for opener. If 2 Drury is overcalled, Drury responses are off, but a partnership may agree to play stolen bid responses. Examples:
Pass 2 |
North Pass Double |
1 2 |
South Pass |
Pass 2 |
North Pass 2 |
1 Double (1) |
South Pass |
- Double shows a hand that would have responded 2.
Other Considerations
- Drury is very easy to forget, since players often do not pay attention to the seating as it pertains to the auction. If you decide to play Drury, be sure to remember it when it comes up.