Drury (Reverse)
Third Seat Majors Only. Our system allows for light third hand openings of major suits only, using the reverse Drury Convention.
Opening Light in Third SeatThe problem comes with third seat light openings -- how can first seat know when it's real and when it's light ? The answer is Reverse Drury.
Why? The reason third hand can open light is that the first two hands have passed -- therefore, the points are distributed around the board evenly, and anyone with a major suit may be able to make a plus score. Also, opening a major will be somewhat preemptive to fourth hand. Not For the Minors. Third hand openings of minor suits are normal strength -- why open a weak 1 Club in third position and allow fourth hand to bid his 10 point Spade hand and make a plus score ? You'll be better off passing out the hand -- that wins at Duplicate, just like a Grand Slam! Strength: Generally, a five card major suit with 9 HCP is about minimum, depending on vulnerability. We use the (Reverse) Drury form. This allows the passed hand to determine if the third hand opener is legitimate or light, and stops the bidding at an appropriate level.We use Drury
only in third seat -- some use it in fourth seat as well.
Example Third Seat Opening Hands
ª AJxxx
ª Kx
ª x
© xx
© KQxxx
© AQJxx
¨ Kxxx
¨ Qx
¨ Kxxx
§ Qx
§ xxxx
§ xxx
1 Spade
1 Heart
1 Heart
N E S W
P P ???
ª xx
© xx
¨ Qxxx
§ AKJxx
Pass; not 1 Club. Overcall opponent's 1ª or 1NT with Two Clubs.
Drury Responses
An opening bid in a major by third seat must be assumed to be light - 9 or so HCP - until proven otherwise. Therefore, responder (first seat) must not make a Limit Raise, for example, thereby getting the partnership too high.Responses With Less Than a Game Going Hand
With 6 - 10 HCP and trump support, simply raise one, whether fourth hand passes or not.
ª Jxx
© Qxx
¨ Axxxx
§ xxRaise 1ª or 1© to two.
Responses With a Possible Game-going Hand
Since first hand already passed as dealer, it cannot have a full opener but it may be quite good - 10 or 11 HCP, for example. As support for opener, it may produce game with a medium to strong opening hand in third seat, or with good distributional values.
The Drury Sequence. With a good, but passed, dealer hand and 3+ card trump support, first seat should bid 2§ - this is the Drury response. Any other bid is natural but must be in context of the third hand light possibility and the fact that first hand has already passed. Careful: Any other bid can be passed by third hand, and Two Over One and Forcing 1NT don't apply.These are hands which could bid Drury 2§ in response to a 1ª third seat opening:
ª Jxxx
ª xxx
ª AQJx
© Kxx
© KQxx
© x
¨ Kxxx
¨ QJx
¨ Kxxxx
§ Ax
§ Kxx
§ xxx
Rebids By Third Seat Opener
When partner - who already passed - bids anything but 2§, it means he is not likely to have a decent hand with trump support. Any such bid can be passed.When partner bids 2
§, there is a possibility of game if the third hand is normal to good strength. The rebids are as follows. (This is the reverse of the original Drury Convention, so it is called Reverse Drury)- If the third hand is a light opener - 9 to 11 points, rebid 2© or 2ª. This ends the auction, unless opponents want to venture in at this late date.- If the third hand is normal -- 12+ points -- bid anything except 2© or 2ª. Often this will be 2¨, which may be short, and so should be alerted to this effect.
Example Drury Sequences
N E S W P P 1© P 2§* P 2© . . . South has opened light. North should pass.
P P 1ª P
1NT . . . A normal bid by North, with no interest in Spades, which may be passed by South. NOT a Forcing 1NT.
P P 1ª p 2ª . . . Less than a Limit Raise by North.
P P 1© P 2§* P 2¨ . . . South has a real opener. His Diamonds may be short.
P P 1ª P 2ª P 3ª . . . South has a real opener and is inviting game -- a good hand.
P P 1© P 3© . . . North forgot ! South could be light and N/S is already too high.