Jim Berglund – Bridge Lesson 13

The Rule of 153rd Seat Openings

The Drury Convention

DisclaimerThere are many ways to bid a bridge hand.

These lessons are not designed to show you ‘the perfect bid’ in each situation

Guidance given is based on what I would do, playing with a good partner.

They are intended to have you think about the possibilities, so that you can take appropriate action,

when you should, more often.Remember, the world’s experts disagree on the right

bid in many situations

3rd Seat OvercallsConsiderations:1. With normal opening hands, bid normally2. With weaker hands (10-12 HCP with a 5-card suit)

a. Avoid opening flat handsb. Use the Rule of 15

“Add your HCP to the number of spades in your hand. If it adds to more than 15, bid”

c. Consider Pre-empting, rather than making an opening bid at the 1-level

♠ Several years ago, bridge players found that there was preemptive value in being the first to bid a major suit, and started opening much weaker in third and fourth seats than was often prudent – especially when partner held a 12 HCP 4-4-4-1 hand or a 11 HCP 4-4-3-2 hand. Bidding was often at the three or four-level before responder caught on.

♠ Drury was invented to make inquiries over third and fourth-seat openers to determine if the opener had a ‘real’ opening bid

♠ The sequence was

Drury*

W N E S

P P 1♥/♠

P 2 *♣ P ?

The 2♣ bid was Drury, showing a near-opener and a good ‘fit’; Any rebid but 2♦ by opener showed a full opener

In time, it was enhanced when other bids took on additional meaning. P-P-1♥/ -P-2 *-2 of the other Major ♠ ♣

indicated a minimal opener (12-13 HCP and a flat hand, which could be corrected to the major at the 2 or 3 level)

1. P-P-1♥/ -P-2 *-2NT showed 17+ to 19 HCP and a flat ♠ ♣

hand

2. P-P-1♥/ -P-2 *-3NT showed 14-17- HCP and a flat ♠ ♣

hand3. P-P-1♥/ -P-2 *-2X showed a second suit with 4♠ ♣

+ cards

Drury*

In much of North America, the sequence has changed:

Reverse Drury*

W N E S

P P 1♥/♠

P 2 *♣ P ?

The 2 bid was Drury, showing a near-opener and a 4-card ♣

‘fit’; Any rebid but the original suit showed a full opener

Drury, like most artificial bids does not apply after opponents interference.

In Calgary, the sequence has been taught as follows:

Revised (2-way) Drury*

W N E S

P P 1 /♥ ♠

P 2 /♣♦*

P ?

The 2 bid was Drury, showing a near-opener and a 3-card ♣

‘fit’; Any rebid but the original suit showed a full opener

The 2♦ bid was Drury, showing a near-opener and a 4-card ‘fit’; Any rebid but the original suit showed a full opener

Other bids were not well-defined, but the basic purpose was achieved

♠ There is an implicit rule that a passed hand cannot force to game.♠ Two bids (2 & 2♣ ♦) are used to describe the same type of hand♠ Slams are seldom investigated unless opener has a Rock and forces ♠ Over Opponent’s Interference, including doubles, bids are poorly defined

Problems with these

methods…

1. A 2 bid is the ♣ only Drury bid; it shows a near-opener with a fit

2. If partner makes a positive bid, bidding cannot stop at lower than 3 of his suit

3. A 2♦ bid or the other major is a negative free bid showing no fit

4. Any new suit bid by opener at the 3-level is a splinter5. A jump raise by opener is RKC for the suit6. A bid at the 4-level shows another 5+ card suit and

should start Q-bids7. A suit jump-bid above game is Exclusion Blackwood

My Methods

Test Question 1BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE NORTH

Which of the following hands would qualify for a Drury 2 ♣response?1 2 3 4

KQ54KQ4324365

W N E S

P P 1♠P ?

♠♥

♦♣

AQ10987KJ8Q876

♠♥

♦♣

K875Q76K3K1098

♠♥

♦♣

98729874AKQJ6

All of them!

♠♥

♦♣

Test Question 2BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE NORTH

Which of the following hands would qualify for a Drury 2 ♣response?1 2 3 4

7654276432A3 A

W N E S

P P 1♠

P ?

♠♥

♦♣

7654AKQK98787

♠♥

♦♣

8754876KQJ986void

♠♥

♦♣

729874AKQJ1063

1, 2, and 3With hand 4, bid 2 ♦

♠♥

♦♣

Test Question 3BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE NORTH

With which of the following hands would you respond 2 ?♠4 5 6 7

765427AK873A4

W N E S

P P 1♠

P 2♣ P ?

♠♥

♦♣

A7654AKJ98787

♠♥

♦♣

Q875487KQJ986void

♠♥

♦♣

QJ64387

KQJ986None of them!

♠ With hand 4 bid 3♥ (splinter)♠ With hand 5 bid 2♥♠ With hand 6 bid 2♦ ♠ With hand 7 bid 4 (suit)♣

♠♥

♦♣

Test Question 4BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE SOUTH

What would you respond with the following hands8 9 10 11

765427KQ732KQ

W N E S

P P 1♠

P 2♣ P ?

♠♥

♦♣

Q7654AJ93QJ87

♠♥

♦♣

QJ987587KQJ98void

♠♥

♦♣

AQJ6432K8KQ106

♠ With hand 8 bid 2♠♠ With hand 9 bid 2♠♠ With hand 10 bid 4♦ (another 5-card suit – invites Q-bids♠ With hand 11 bid 3 - (Splinter - invites Q-bids)♣

♠♥

♦♣

Test Question 5BOTH VULNERABLEYOU ARE NORTH

What would you respond with the following hands12 13 14 15

7654KQ732KQ32

W N E S

P P 1S

P 2C P 2S

P ?

♠♥

♦♣

Q762AJ93QJQ73

♠♥

♦♣

AJ98876KQ9873

♠♥

♦♣

Q62KJ6Q109K1098

♠ With hand 12 bid 4♠♠ With hand 13 Pass♠ With hand 14 bid 3♦ ♠ With hand 15 bid 2NT

♠♥

♦♣