July 2023 - 68

Special Contributor
Vic's Views
Drury: Bidding after a third- or
fourth-seat major-suit opening - part 1
Setting the stage
After two passes, say partner opens
1s. Many partnerships permit opening
a chunky four-card major suit in
third seat, a treatment I personally
endorse. You hold:
sK 7 5 h7 6 dA K 7 5 3 c7 5 3.
What are your choices?
* 1NT: even if playing 2/1, this should
not be forcing by a passed hand.
* 2d: natural, but non-forcing by a
passed hand.
* 2s: a big underbid. There's a good
chance you'll miss a makable game.
* 3s: could lead to a minus score if
partner has opened light, or has
opened a four-card suit.
Wouldn't you like to make a game
invitation without risking the three
level? You can do this if you adopt the
Drury convention.
What is the Drury convention?
After a third- or fourth-seat opening
bid of 1h or 1s by partner, you
bid 2c (artificial and Alertable) to
announce a limit raise of the major.
Here are my suggested continuations:
Responder Opener
Pass
2c
1s
?
* 2d: A legitimate opening bid. Might
accept the right limit raise.
* 2h: Natural, one-round force. Treat
it as a probe for best game.
* 2s: Minimum or subminimum, no
interest in game. It begs responder
to pass.
* 3s: Slammish. Invites a control bid.
* 4s: To play. No slam interest.
There are other possible continuations,
but let's limit it to these for
now.
68 | Bridge Bulletin | July 2023
What about 2-way Drury?
Some players like to use both 2c
and 2d as Drury bids - 2c to show
a three-card raise and 2d to show a
four-card raise. I personally don't see
the need to give up a second natural
bid; others may disagree. Discuss
with your partner(s).
How should we continue
as responder?
After the auction above, here are
my suggested continuations as responder
after Pass-1s; 2c[Drury]:
Opener bids 2d: (1) With any threecard
raise or a minimum four-card
raise, return to 2s, leaving it to partner.
If partner continues, I suggest
you use whatever game-try structure
you employ after a 1s-2s auction.
I like natural game tries. (2) With a
maximum four-card raise, bid beyond
2s. I suggest you bid a suit where you
have something, allowing partner to
reevaluate based on her holding in
that suit. You're looking to see if the
hands fit well.
Opener bids 2h: Reevaluate your
hand in the light of partner's rebid.
You may return to 2s, raise to 3h
(non-forcing), bid 4h or bid 4s.
Opener bids 2s: Pass. Respect partner's
signoff. Even if we happen to
have " magic, " bidding on may erode
partnership trust.
Opener bids 3s: Make a control
bid. You and partner need to agree
whether your control bid shows firstor
second-round control.
Opener bids 4s: Pass. Partner is not
interested in slam.
What if the opponents compete?
You and your partner(s) should discuss
whether Drury is " on " if the opponents
compete. My personal choice
BY VIC QUIROS
vic@thebridgeclassroom.com
thebridgeclassroom.com
is that Drury is on if 2c is available.
As always, the key is to have an agreement.
We'll go into more detail on
this and other extensions in the next
issue.
Quiz
How do you continue in each of the
following auctions:
Responder Opener
Pass
2c
1s
?
1 sK Q 10 3 hA 8 d9 8 6 4 cK 6 2
2 sK Q 10 7 3 hA 8 dA 8 6 4 cK 6
3 sK Q 10 9 5 3 hA dA K Q 6 c9 6
4 sA Q 10 7 3 hK 10 9 3 d9 8 cA 6
5 sK 10 9 5 3 hA Q 10 7 3 d9 cA 6
Responder Opener
Pass
2c
?
1s
2d
6 sK 10 3 hA 8 d9 8 6 4 cK 6 4 2
7 sK 10 5 3 hA 8 d9 8 6 cK J 6 4
8 s10 4 3 2 hK 8 dK J 6 cK 6 4 2
9 sK 10 5 3 hA 8 2 d9 6 4 cK J 2
continued on page 73
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July 2023

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