Drury

 

It's common practice to open light in 3rd seat, and that's why Drury was invented, of course.  Drury is used opposite a third-seat major-suit opening (also opposite fourth seat by some players) as a check-back on the soundness of that opening.  For more on this device please follow the link, and for examples of Drury from previous Wednesday Games, please see below.

 

26th April, 2006                Board 14       Dealer East         None Vul

 

 

Do you play Drury?  This convention is available to a passed hand when Partner has made a 3^rd or 4^th seat opening … it says “I have support, is your 1♥ opening bid for real?”.  Some partnerships use 2♣ as Drury, others play Two-Way Drury, in which both 2♣ and 2♦ are used for Drury.

 

How strong does the Drury bidder need to be?  Limit raise values, or something pretty close.  If Drury is not already in your repertoire, consider adding it, it’s both useful and simple.

 

26th July, 2006                 Board 1       Dealer North       None Vul

 

 

After Partner has opened 1♥ or 1♠ in 3rd (or 4th) seat, many players use the Drury convention as a way to check back to see whether or not that opening was full opening strength.  To use Drury requires that you have at least 3-card support and (usually) invitational values.  The two most common flavors of the convention are:

  - 2♣ shows 3 or more of Partner's major

  - 2♣ shows 3-card support, and 2♦ shows 4 or more (the so-called Two-Way Drury).

 

Those who play Drury must decide whether it is on over interference, in this case that Double.  For most partnerships, Drury is indeed on in competition, in which case, East has an easy 2♣ bid in the above auction.

 

 

21st November, 2007        Board 2      Dealer East       N-S Vul

 

 

As a passed hand, with invitational values and support for Partner’s major, East has a perfect hand for Drury.  However, North’s 2♣ gets in the way of that idea, and East has to bid 3♣ to show his good support.  This is not ideal, of course, West might have opened who-knows-what third-hand horror, and there is also the possibility of a 4-card suit to be reckoned with.

 

The next question is “Do you play Drury in competition?”  For example:

            East     South   West    North

            Pass    Pass    1♥        1♠

            ??

Yes, we’d suggest that Drury is still on here (also if North had doubled).

 

Of course, in the actual auction, North’s 2♣ has taken away our Drury bid.  However, some pairs use Two-Way Drury, whereby 2♣ shows 3-card support and 2♦ shows 4-card support.  With Two-Way Drury in mind consider these situations:

            East     South   West    North

            Pass    Pass    1♥        1♠

            2♣                                           Shows 3-card support

 

            East     South   West    North

            Pass    Pass    1♥        1♠

            2♦                                            Shows 4-card support

 

            East     South   West    North

            Pass    Pass    1♥        2♣

            2♦                                            As there is only one of the two Drury bids available,

                                                            2♦ does double duty, could be 3 or 4.

 

 

1st November, 2006         Board 14      Dealer East       None Vul

 

 

Are you tempted to pass here, hoping that Partner reopens with a Double, allowing you to pass in search of a juicy penalty?  It might work, but there too many negatives to this plan:

-         they are not vulnerable, so we need to defeat it by at least 2 tricks to beat our own part-score, and by 3 if we can make game

-         we have support for Partner’s Hearts, and doubling the opponents at the one-level tends to be less productive in those circumstances

-         if they run to 2 of a minor we’ll have to go beyond 2♥ in order to show our support and values, and this is likely to be quite dangerous opposite a third hand opening.

 

No, our suggestion would be to show support for Partner’s Hearts.  If you play Drury, it’s a good idea to play it in competition, and our suggestion would be a 2♣ bid here, saying “Is your third seat opening for real?  Or have you opened light yet again?”.  It turns out that Partner has opened light and 2♥ will be the final contract, and it further turns out that 8 tricks is all that E-W can make.

 

And what would happen if East pursued the penalty option?  South would run to 2♣ (which makes), and now East would be faced with a problem.  Supporting Partner with a 2♥ bid doesn’t seem quite enough, and going beyond 2♥ gets E-W too high.  Better to show decent support via Drury and give the partnership a chance to stay low.

 

 

31st October, 2007            Board 22      Dealer East       E-W Vul

 

 

Our passed-hand Partner’s 2♣ was Drury, he has invitational values and at least 3-card support.  That puts us in the slam zone if Partner has a well-fitting hand.  What’s your next move?  Without even waiting for your answer, let us ask another question.  How do you play 2NT here?  Our suggestion is to play it as strong and artificial, and our own suggestion is to play it in the same style as your Jacoby 2NT.  So, using standard Jacoby 2NT methods, Partner will show shortness if he can.

 

On the actual deal, Partner has Heart shortness.  Perfect!  We bid 2NT, he bids 3♥, and we can see no reason now not to leap majestically to 6♠.

 

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