Reverse Drury

The origin of this variation became almost standard in the year 1984 after sponsoring organizations surveyed the top professional bridge players as to their opinon on the original concept of the Drury convention. This alteration of the Drury convention became popular during the 1980s. This conventional method is also sometimes referred to as Modified Drury. This is more or less the modern standard version of the original convention devised by Mr. Douglas Drury.

Note: The bridge student may also find interesting two published articles from The Bulletin, published by ACBL in March and April 1957. The first article is by Mr. Alfred Sheinwold, the Editor of The Bulletin at that time and the second article is authored by Mr. Eric R. Murray, who was the long-time partner of Douglas A. Drury and who also the co-author of the original version of the Drury conventional method. These two articles have been only archived and preserved on this site in .pdf file format for future reference. Original source.

Note: In the original version of Mr. Douglas Drury the rebid of 2 Diamonds by the opener strongly suggested a weak, sub-minimum holding. According to this version the responder could sign off if the opener rebids two of the original Major suit.

It was, however, the finding after a survey / poll (1984) of professional experts, that a preference was discovered by a margin of two-to-one for a rebid of the Major suit as opener's weak action instead of the rebid of 2 Diamonds, and any other rebid would strongly suggest a solid opening. The result and publication of this survey was immediately adopted by the bridge community and thus was born the concept of Reverse Drury. (OE)

Principle Parameters of the Variation

After a third or fourth seat opening of a Major suit following two consecutive passes, especially Spades and less frequently Hearts, the responder, who is a passed hand, shows a strong raise with at least a 3-card support and a 10-12 point range, by bidding 2 Clubs. The following illustration and the explanations show this concept:

North East South West Meaning

Pass Pass 1 Pass The opening bid of a Major suit on the one level following two consecutive passes can be, by partnership agreement, weak in values. On the other hand the opener may have opening values plus.

2 The Reverse Drury conventional inquiry is initiated with a first response of 2 Clubs, which promises a minimum of a 3-card support for partner's suit and a range of 9-11 high card points.

Pass ?

Note: The opener is now required to clarify his holding: weak to moderate or full opening with additional values. The opener does so with the following rebids:

2 : An artificial rebid promising full opening values.

2 : Shows minimum values and does not promise any additional length in the original suit.

Note: If there is bidding space available, then all rebids on the two level by the opener are considered natural and forward-going, implying that the responder is forced to continue the bidding. The following example illustrates this principle:

North (D) East South West Meaning

Pass Pass 1 Pass The opening bid of a Major suit on the one level following two consecutive passes can be, by partnership agreement, weak in values. On the other hand the opener may have opening values plus.

2 The Reverse Drury conventional inquiry is initiated with a first response of 2 Clubs, which promises a minimum of a 3-card support for partner's suit and a range of 9-11 high card points.

Pass 2 Promises a 4-card Diamond suit. This bid is natural and the responder must continue the bidding. (Note: a partnership agreement is essential for this rebid as no definition is available as a guideline.)

2 Promises a 4-card Heart suit. This bid is natural and the responder must continue the bidding.

3 In the case that the responder does hold a long Club suit with near maximum opening values (11-12 points), then the responder will bid 3 Clubs first, instead of 2 Clubs followed by 3 Clubs as in the original version.

3 Optional Bid: In the case that the responder does hold a long Diamond suit with near maximum opening values (11-12 points), then the responder will bid 2 Clubs first (forcing) followed by a continuation of 3 Diamonds for a possible game contract in No Trump. (Note: the opener can always correct to Spades since the 2 Clubs first response promises sufficient values to raise to the three level.

Important Information

2
When employing reverse Drury any non-jump rebid by the opener of the Major suit shows a weak holding in third seat according to the Principle of Fast Denies, Slow Shows.

Note: The main reason for the additional bids of 2 Diamonds and 2 Hearts is that two fits may be discovered, which allows the partnership to better judge the possibility of a game contract.

Note: If the opening bid is Hearts, then the same principles apply. Only in the attempt to discover a second fit is the partnership limited by the lack of bidding space.

Note: It is also noteworthy that most partnerships have agreed to employ Reverse Drury as a guarantee of at least a 3-card trump support for the opened Major suit. Other partnerships have agreed that the trump support should be at least a 4-card suit.

Responder's Rebids

Once the opener has denied a full opening, then the responder will pass if opener rebids the original suit or support the suit of the opener at the lowest level, which is then a preference. For example: 1 - 2 - 2 - 2.

On the other hand, if the rebid of the opener shows full opening values, then the following options apply:

2 Major:	Shows a maximum of 11 points, at least 3-card support for the Major suit of opener, but strongly indicates that game is not possible without additional values held by opener. This rebid by responder is considered non-forcing.
3 Major:	Game forcing and excellent support for the Major suit of opener (generally a 4-card suit), and at least 12 support points.
Other Rebids:	Any other rebid by the responder guarantees good support for the the Major suit bid by opener. This rebid is one-round forcing, not game forcing. If the opener rebids the original Major suit on the two or three level, then the opener shows an absolute minimum holding and no game interest.

As with all partnership agreements, it must be stated, that South, in the example above, can show a hand willing to accept an invitation to game by bidding any other suit. Some expert bridge players use this new suit as a Help Suit Game Try. Other bridge players have the understanding that the opener must rebid two Diamonds with any hand willing to accept an invitation to game. This allows the responder to show a second suit or return to the trump suit with minimum invitational values.

Rebids by the Opener

In general the partnership will have combined values for a partscore and frequently for a game contract. In most bridge publications the strong suggestion is that the individual partnership consider and treat all continuations as a partnership agreement. There are several methods of continuation rebids by the opener to describe the holding following the opening in third and/or fourth seat and a positive response of 2 Clubs by partner.

One such method for the opening Major suit bidder is presented below, and should by no means be considered standard, but rather only a logical response method for any and all of the Drury agreements.

2 : The opener rebids 2 Diamonds to show minimum values. The partner, or Drury bidder, signs off at the two-level since there is no opportunity to bid a game contract.

2 M: Rebidding two of the opening Major suit promises opening values and stresses the fact that no additional values are available. The strong suggestion is that the Drury bidder should sign-off on the two-level. In competition the Drury bidder can logically, however, compete to the three-level with maximum values.

2 : Following an opening bid of 1 Spade, followed by a positive response, then the opener can bid 2 Hearts to show not only full opening values, but also the distribution of the holding. The distribution will always be: 5-4-x-x. However, with a void (5-4-x-void) the opening bidder should bid game immediately instead of sharing additional information about the holding with the opposing side.

New Suit: The rebid of any other new suit promises additional or extra values, and shows a second suit. The logic of such a rebid is to discover whether there is a possible fit in two suits, which makes the decision to bid a game contract more convincing.

Jump: Any jump in a new suit is a splinter bid. This action shows either a singleton or void and is strongly encouraging for slam interest.

2 NT: This rebid shows values between 15 and 17 high card points. The distribution, however, is neither convincing nor plausible for a regular No Trump opening on the one level. This is also the case with those partnership agreements, which do not agree to open No Trump with a 5-card Major suit. (Note: it is a judgment call for the responder to either bid a game contract with this additional information in either the Major suit or in No Trump.

3 NT: This rebid promises a balanced distribution with 5-x-x-x and values of 18 plus points.

4 M: A rebid by the opener of 4 of the opened Major suit states only that the opener strongly prefers to play a game contract opposite a minimum of 10 support points.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.

VulkaN...2020

North	East	South	West	Meaning
Pass	Pass	1	Pass	The opening bid of a Major suit on the one level following two consecutive passes can be, by partnership agreement, weak in values. On the other hand the opener may have opening values plus.
2				The Reverse Drury conventional inquiry is initiated with a first response of 2 Clubs, which promises a minimum of a 3-card support for partner's suit and a range of 9-11 high card points.
	Pass	?

2 :	An artificial rebid promising full opening values.
2 :	Shows minimum values and does not promise any additional length in the original suit.

North (D)	East	South	West	Meaning
Pass	Pass	1	Pass	The opening bid of a Major suit on the one level following two consecutive passes can be, by partnership agreement, weak in values. On the other hand the opener may have opening values plus.
2				The Reverse Drury conventional inquiry is initiated with a first response of 2 Clubs, which promises a minimum of a 3-card support for partner's suit and a range of 9-11 high card points.
	Pass	2		Promises a 4-card Diamond suit. This bid is natural and the responder must continue the bidding. (Note: a partnership agreement is essential for this rebid as no definition is available as a guideline.)
		2		Promises a 4-card Heart suit. This bid is natural and the responder must continue the bidding.
		3		In the case that the responder does hold a long Club suit with near maximum opening values (11-12 points), then the responder will bid 3 Clubs first, instead of 2 Clubs followed by 3 Clubs as in the original version.
		3		Optional Bid: In the case that the responder does hold a long Diamond suit with near maximum opening values (11-12 points), then the responder will bid 2 Clubs first (forcing) followed by a continuation of 3 Diamonds for a possible game contract in No Trump. (Note: the opener can always correct to Spades since the 2 Clubs first response promises sufficient values to raise to the three level.
		Important Information
		2		When employing reverse Drury any non-jump rebid by the opener of the Major suit shows a weak holding in third seat according to the Principle of Fast Denies, Slow Shows.

2 :	The opener rebids 2 Diamonds to show minimum values. The partner, or Drury bidder, signs off at the two-level since there is no opportunity to bid a game contract.
2 M:	Rebidding two of the opening Major suit promises opening values and stresses the fact that no additional values are available. The strong suggestion is that the Drury bidder should sign-off on the two-level. In competition the Drury bidder can logically, however, compete to the three-level with maximum values.
2 :	Following an opening bid of 1 Spade, followed by a positive response, then the opener can bid 2 Hearts to show not only full opening values, but also the distribution of the holding. The distribution will always be: 5-4-x-x. However, with a void (5-4-x-void) the opening bidder should bid game immediately instead of sharing additional information about the holding with the opposing side.
New Suit:	The rebid of any other new suit promises additional or extra values, and shows a second suit. The logic of such a rebid is to discover whether there is a possible fit in two suits, which makes the decision to bid a game contract more convincing.
Jump:	Any jump in a new suit is a splinter bid. This action shows either a singleton or void and is strongly encouraging for slam interest.
2 NT:	This rebid shows values between 15 and 17 high card points. The distribution, however, is neither convincing nor plausible for a regular No Trump opening on the one level. This is also the case with those partnership agreements, which do not agree to open No Trump with a 5-card Major suit. (Note: it is a judgment call for the responder to either bid a game contract with this additional information in either the Major suit or in No Trump.
3 NT:	This rebid promises a balanced distribution with 5-x-x-x and values of 18 plus points.
4 M:	A rebid by the opener of 4 of the opened Major suit states only that the opener strongly prefers to play a game contract opposite a minimum of 10 support points.