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INTERMEDIATE-2
BRIDGE
LESSON
4
THE
DRURY CONVENTION
A. BACKGROUND: After two previous passes at the table, the third player may
sometimes opt to open the bidding relatively freely; i.e., with several HCP's
less than that normally required. This
is partly because of the negation of the responsibility of a rebid (partner has
already passed), partly because the bid made may inconvenience the forth player
who has yet to have the opportunity to open the bidding (the player who is
likely to have the best hand at the table), and partly because partner may
utilize the information for lead directing significance should that team
ultimately become defenders of an eventual contract by the opponents.
In third seat, after two
successive passes, one may open with any holding which would otherwise
be good enough to be a sound overcall (even as low as 8‑9 HCP's). If the answer to the question, "IF MY
RIGHT‑HAND OPPONENT WOULD HAVE OPENED 1‑CLUB, USING THE SUIT
QUALITY TEST, WITH THIS
HOLDING, WOULD I HAVE WANTED TO OVERCALL?", is yes, one should open the
hand in third seat.
SUIT QUALITY TEST ‑ A suit is strong
enough for an overcall if‑ THE LENGTH IN THE SUIT + THE NUMBER OF HONORS
IN THAT SUIT (THE JACK AND TEN ARE COUNTED AS HONORS IF HIGHER HONORS
ARE ALSO HELD) = THE NUMBER OF TRICKS TO BE BID. Thus, if the suit quality = seven (7), the hand would qualify
for a super‑light third seat opening bid at the one‑level.
XX AQXXX AKQX
EXAMPLES: AKlOXX KIOX
XXX
(a)
QXX
(b) XX (c) XXX
XXX QXX QXXX
In third seat, players who use a 5‑card
major system are likely to open 1H with (a), and 1S with (b & c). Their reasons are simple. They want to direct the lead if they become
defenders, and their opening pre‑empts most of the bids at the 1‑level
from their opponents. In addition,
they are not afraid of being raised on 3‑card support with the 5-card
holding as in (a) or (b) above, or even such a fine 4‑card suit as in
(c).
In forth seat, after three
successive passes, the same principal of opening with a less than sound opening
also applies, especially, when the RULE OF 15 (Lesson 15), is employed.
NOW LET US TURN OUR
ATTENTION TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.
B. PURPOSE: After passing, the responder to a third or fourth‑chair
opening bid faces two special problem in describing his/her hand:
(1) A simple change of suit
is no longer forcing (opener knows responder has less than
opening values), so
responder cannot make a temporizing bid; opener my pass.
(2)
The
opener may well have opened the bidding on a sub‑minimum hand so that a
jump
response by responder could easily get the partnership too
high.
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Suppose
you pick up (JXX AXX KQXXX
JX) and after passing, partner opens 1S in third or forth chair. What response do you make? Does partner have a full opening count or
perhaps a third-position sub-minimum 10-12 HCP’s? If you just raise to 2S it is an underbid, and if partner has a
14‑15 point true opening bid, opener would pass and you could be playing
in a final inferior part‑score contract. If , on the other hand, you bid 3S, and opener has a hand as in
(b) or (c) above (a sub‑minimum opening), 3S is likely to be too
high. In short, responder does not
have a good bid available which will describe the maximum previously-passed
hand with support for opener's suit.
Determining the nature (full or sub‑minimum) of partner's third or
forth seat opening is crucial in finding the best level of the final
contract. Utilizing the Drury Convention enables
responder to show his/her fit and values WITHOUT jumping to the 3‑level.
C. REQUIREMENTS: To use the Drury Convention, the responder must have
both:
a. A previously passing 10‑12
point hand (one just short of the values needed for a minimum
opening bid) and:
b. Either: (1) A fit for opener's Major suit
third or forth‑seat opening bid or,
(2) A good 6‑card Club suit that
responder expects to rebid irrespective
of opener's response to the
Drury Convention.
D. INVOKING THE
CONVENTION: Responder bids an Artificial
"2C" in response to a third or forth chair opening bid. This 2‑Club response does NOT say
anything about responder's Club holding (unless Clubs are subsequently rebid by
responder); but simply asks opener whether or not he/she has a full opening
bid.
E. RESPONSE BY OPENER: Opener's primary obligation is to inform responder as to whether
or not a full opening bid is present.
The Rebids by the responder are as follows:
1. "2D" ‑ An Artificial response denying a full
opening bid thus evidencing a sub‑minimum
opener. This bid, being artificial, says nothing
about opener's Diamond suit.
2. 2H or 2S ‑ A repeat of opener’s suit evidencing a full
opening count.
3. 3C or 3D ‑ A natural rebid with more than full values for
the original 1H or IS opening.
4. 3H or 3S ‑ A game-force and slam-interest opening hand
with.
F. RESPONSE BY RESPONDER: Responder, knowing the sub‑minimum, normal, or slam
interest value of opener's hand, now takes control and either bids:
1. 2H or 2S ‑ in response to the artificial "2D"
response by opener denying a full
opener.
2. 3C ‑ A drop dead 6‑card Club suit with no support
for partner's stated Major suit.
3. 3H or 3S ‑ Invitational to game
4. 4H or 4S ‑ A sign‑off in response to opener's full
opening bid.
G. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESPONDER’S BID OTHER THAN
"2D”: Since responder is a previously-passed hand, his/her bid is not forcing
and can be passed. opener is, therefore, relieved of his/her normal obligation
of an opening bidder to keep the bidding open by rebidding something.
H. OPENER'S RESPONSE TO "2C" AFTER
INTERFERENCE BY THE OPPONENTS: A pass should signify a sub-minimum opening and
anything else signifies a full normal opening bid.