IT is not uncommon for bridge partnerships to open the bidding in hearts or spades in third seat with as few as 10 points.
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The advantages include being lead directing, using the opposition's bidding space, and the opening bidding side assuming a superior bidding position.
But if partner has a nine to 11 point hand after shortage points are added, s/he faces a dilemma of knowing whether to bid on, perhaps to game.
A Mr Drury, who played bridge in Toronto, Canada some years ago, had this problem so he developed a convention to assist him and his partner.
His system was later modified and became known as Reverse Drury.
The “artificial” bid is two clubs by the passed hand.
The bid promises three card trump support and nine to 11 total points.
Shortage points should be added as an eight card trump fit is known to exist.
The opening bidder will make an artificial two diamonds bid if s/he has a full opening hand, or rebid the opening hearts or spades to show a weak opening hand.
A hand at the Bathurst Bridge Club shows how the Reverse Drury convention works.
Dealer: North
Vulnerability: E/W
North: Spades K53, Hearts JT, Diamonds 7543, Clubs AJ76
East: Spades 973, Hearts Q753, Diamonds AJ9, Clubs Q95
South: Spades AT864, Hearts K8, Diamonds K862, Clubs 32
West: Spades Q2, Hearts A9642, Diamonds QT, Clubs KT84
The bidding was
North East South West
Pass Pass *1S(1) Pass
*2C(2) Pass 2S(3) All pass
* Alert
(1) A possible “light” opening with as few as 10 HCPs.
(2) Reverse Drury. "Partner, is your opening bid normal or light?"
(3) "Light."
North/South made eight tricks with spades as trumps, and prevented East/West from bidding and making a part score in hearts.
It was a good result on this hand for North/South.
A Mr Drury, who played bridge in Toronto, had this problem so he developed a convention to assist him and his partner.