Drury

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Drury is a convention for use after partner opens one of a major (1 or 1) in third or fourth seat. Since many partnerships agree to open light in third seat for preemptive effect, it becomes important for responder, with a good hand, to know whether or not partner has a light or sound opening bid. Responder wants to underbid if opener has a weak hand, but he also wants to bid normally if partner has his regular opening values. The application of Drury to discern between light and sound opening bids is extended to use in fourth seat, even though opener usually passes bad hands in that position, because it is still a useful, constructive convention there.

After partner opens 1 in third or fourth seat, a 2 response shows at least 10 support points with at least three-card support. Opener's rebids are:

2 A sub-minimum hand

2 A normal opening bid

All other bids Natural, promising at least normal opening values

After partner opens 1 in third or fourth seat, a 2C response again shows at least 10 support points with at least three-card support. Opener's rebids are:

2 A sub-minimum hand

2 At least four hearts, does not guarantee a full opening bid

2 A normal opening bid

All other bids Natural, promising at least normal opening values

Thus in exchange for a natural 2 response to 1/1, responder can find out at the two-level whether or not to make a game invitation. Without Drury, responder would be left guessing whether or not to be making single raises, jump raises or other courses of action that might depend on how light his partner's third- and fourth-seat opening bids are.

Reverse Drury

A popular twist to Drury, Reverse Drury exchanges the meanings of 2 and 2 of the agreed major. This way, opener can save some constructive bidding space by bidding 2. Now responder can make weak or strong game invitations by rebidding 2 or 3 of the major.

Two-Way Reverse Drury

Two-Way Reverse Drury allows responder to show good 3- and 4-card raises by sacrificing the natural passed hand 2 response to 1 and 1. A 2 response to 1 or 1 in third or fourth seat shows at least 10 support points with exactly three card support, while a 2 response shows at least 10 support points with exactly four card support. After 1:2, opener's rebids are:

2 A sub-minimum hand

All other bids Natural, promising at least normal opening values

After 1:2, opener's rebids are:

2 At least four hearts, does not guarantee a full opening bid

2 A sub-minimum hand

All other bids Natural, promising at least normal opening values

In Competition

If 1 or 1 is doubled or overcalled, Drury is on if 2 is an available bid for responder. Examples:

1 (X) 2

1 (1) 2

1 (X) 2

If 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:

1 (Pass) 2 (2)

X

Double shows a hand that would have responded 2D.

1 (Pass) 2 (2)

Pass

Pass shows a hand that would have responded 2, not 2.

Extra Tips

1) Drury in all its incarnations is one of the most easily forgotten conventions in existence, 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.