The Drury Convention
Drury is an artificial 2♣ response by a passed hand to partner's 1♥ or 1♠ opening in third or fourth seat. It shows a limit raise, three or more trumps and about 10 to 12 points, so that a light opener can stop in two of the major.
Updated 13 October 2026
The Drury convention is an artificial 2♣ response by a passed hand, showing a limit raise when partner opens a major in third or fourth seat. It exists because those openings are often light. Many players open 10 or 11 points with a good major in that position, to direct the lead or to make life awkward for the opponents. A passed partner holding 10 to 12 points and support would normally make a limit raise to three of the major, and opposite a light opening the three level may already be too high. After 2♣, opener with a light opening can stop in two of the major.
How the Drury convention works
Drury applies only when responder is a passed hand and partner opens 1♥ or 1♠ in third or fourth seat. Responder's 2♣ then says nothing about clubs. It shows:
- support for opener's major, three or more cards in the basic version,
- limit raise values, about 10 to 12 points counting shape,
- a hand that would have bid three of the major if partner had opened in first or second seat.
Opener now tells responder whether the opening was real. In the modern form, called Reverse Drury, opener with a light opening simply rebids two of the major and responder passes. Opener with a full opening bids something else.
From Drury to Reverse Drury to two-way Drury
The convention has gone through three versions. All three share the passed-hand 2♣ and differ in what opener's rebid means.
| Form | Responder | Opener's light rebid | Opener's full rebid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Drury | 2♣: limit raise | 2♦ (artificial) | Two of the major or anything else |
| Reverse Drury | 2♣: limit raise | Two of the major | 2♦ or anything else |
| Two-way Drury | 2♣: three trumps; 2♦: four trumps | Two of the major | Any other bid |
In original Drury, devised by Douglas Drury, opener showed a light hand with an artificial 2♦ and responder then signed off in two of the major. That took an extra round of bidding to stop in the same place, and gave the opponents a cheap chance to come in. Reverse Drury fixed this by letting opener sign off directly, and today it is what most players mean by Drury. Two-way Drury adds a second bid: 2♣ shows the limit raise with exactly three trumps and 2♦ with four or more, so opener can judge how high to compete. The Bidding Architect library uses two-way Drury with the reverse rebids. The Reverse Drury guide covers opener's rebids in detail.
When to use Drury
- Responder has passed. An unpassed hand has a normal limit raise and normal methods, such as Bergen raises or Jacoby 2NT.
- Partner opened a major in third or fourth seat. Drury is not used over minor-suit openings.
- You hold support and 10 to 12 points. On less, raise to two of the major. On a weak hand with four or more trumps, jump to three of the major as a pre-empt.
- The opponents have not interfered. If they overcall, most partnerships switch Drury off and use the cue bid of their suit for the limit raise. Over a takeout double, agree whether Drury still applies.
Example: stopping in two
Give South a full opening instead, for example the same hand with the ♦K in place of the ♦8. South would then bid 2♦ to show a real opening, and the partnership would reach 3♠ or 4♠ depending on how good North's raise is.
Common mistakes
- Using Drury as an unpassed hand. 2♣ by an unpassed hand is a natural response.
- Forgetting that 2♣ is artificial. Opener must not treat it as a club suit, and the opponents are entitled to an alert.
- Passing 2♣. Drury is forcing. Opener must rebid, even with a minimum.
- Bidding Drury with a weak hand. Drury promises a limit raise. With 6 to 9 points and support, raise to two directly.
- Mixing up the versions. If one partner plays the original and the other plays Reverse Drury, a 2♦ rebid means opposite things. Agree on one form.
In the Bidding Architect
Two-way Drury over 1♥ and 1♠, with opener's Reverse Drury rebids, is in the Bidding Architect's convention library. Copy it into your system, or trim it to one-way Drury if you prefer, and practice the passed-hand auctions.
Loading the convention from the library.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Drury convention in bridge?
- Drury is a 2♣ response by a passed hand to partner's third- or fourth-seat 1♥ or 1♠ opening. It is artificial and shows a limit raise in opener's major, so a light opener can stop in two.
- What is the difference between Drury and Reverse Drury?
- In original Drury, opener shows a light opening with an artificial 2♦. In Reverse Drury, opener shows a light opening by rebidding two of the major, and 2♦ or any other bid shows a full opening. The Reverse Drury guide covers opener's rebids in detail.
- Can a passed hand still respond 2 clubs with a club suit when playing Drury?
- No. Once you play Drury, a passed hand's 2♣ is always the artificial limit raise. With long clubs and no fit, respond 1NT, or jump to 3♣ if your partnership plays it as natural.
- Is Drury used in first or second seat?
- No. Drury needs responder to be a passed hand, so it only applies when partner opens in third or fourth seat.
- How many points does Drury show?
- About 10 to 12 points counting shape, the values of a limit raise, with support for opener's major.
Two-way Drury with opener's replies, ready to copy into your own system.
Open Drury in the Bidding Architect- Reverse DruryReverse Drury flips the original: opener's rebid of the major is now the weak sign-off and 2 diamonds shows a real opening. Two-way Drury adds 2 diamonds for four-card support.
- Bergen RaisesBergen raises use 3 clubs and 3 diamonds over a one-major opening to show four-card support with constructive or limit values. The structure, reverse Bergen, and examples.
- Jacoby 2NTJacoby 2NT is the game-forcing raise of a one-major opening with four-card support. Opener's responses showing shortness and strength, follow-ups, and example auctions.
- The Rule of 20The rule of 20 says open the bidding when your high-card points plus the lengths of your two longest suits reach 20. How it works, the rule of 22 refinement, and hands at the border.
- Bridge ConventionsEvery common bridge bidding convention in one list: what each bid means, when partnerships use it, and a full guide for Stayman, transfers, Blackwood, Michaels and more.