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Bidding Conventions
LESSON 32
Drury 2♣ - Crowhurst 2♣

  1. The Drury 2♣ Convention
  2. The Crowhurst 2♣ Convention
  3. Opener's replies to Crowhurst 2♣
  4. Deals 153 - 160
    Review

    Bidding Guide : advBG-13



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BR 32.1 - The Drury 2♣ Convention

The bidding has started, but the first 2 or 3 players (including yourself) have passed. Fortunately your Partner (sitting in 3rd or 4th position) opens with 1♥. You have trump support and a maximum pass points (11-12 points) and convey this happy news with a standard jump raise to 3♥. Unfortunately Partner (enticed by his long major suit) made a rather light opening with a mere 11 points and the contract goes one down.
What to do ?   Should Partner have passed in the first place ?   Of course not, because the Drury 2♣ Convention (amongst some also known as "Reverse Drury") provides the perfect solution.

After an Opening of 1♥ or 1♠ by a player in 3rd or 4th position, his Partner (who has previously passed) responds with 2♣ when he has trump support and 11-12 points (a "maximum pass").
Replies by the Opener are :

Bidding Description Example hand
1♥ - 2♣ - 2♥ Sub minimum, 11-13 pts ♠ A 9     ♥ K Q 9 7 4     ♣ J 8 5 4     ♦ 9 8
1♠ - 2♣ - 2♠ Sub minimum, 11-13 pts ♠ A Q 9 6 4     ♥ K Q 4     ♣ 10 8 4 3     ♦ 7 2
All other replies by Opener show 14+ points
1♥ - 2♣ - 4♥ Minimum Opening, 14-15 pts
No Slam interest
♠ A 9 2     ♥ K J 9 7 4     ♣ K 7 5     ♦ K 8
1♥ - 2♣ - 2♠ 14+ pts, new suit bid
4-card side suit
♠ A Q 9 5     ♥ K Q 9 7 4     ♣ K 5 4     ♦ 8
1♥ - 2♣ - 3♦ 14+ pts, jump shift
5-card side suit
♠ A 7     ♥ K Q 9 7 4     ♣ 4     ♦ A Q 10 9 3
1♥ - 2♣ - 3NT RKC Blackwood, Slam interest
18+ points or 4-6 losers
♠ A 9 3     ♥ K Q 9 7 4     ♣ K Q 5 4     ♦ A

After Opener's weak reply of 2♦ Responder will usually sign on in 2 of the major.

After an Overcall or Double by the Opposition, Responder's 2♣ remains Drury.

In a case where Responder holds a genuine long (5+card) Club suit but no support for Opener's major, he bids 2♣ first, then rebids 3♣ at his next turn.

After Enemy interference a Pass by Opener shows a minimum (11-13). All his other bids show 14+ points.


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BR 32.2 - The Crowhurst 2♣ Convention

The Crowhurst 2♣ convention is another useful convention which provides the Opener with a chance to describe his hand in greater detail. (This convention is very similar to "New Minor Forcing" and "Back check Stayman")

After any two suit bids at the 1 level followed by a rebid by the Opener of 1NT (showing 12-15 points) a rebid by the Responder of 2♣ is artificial and forcing for one round. It shows 11+ points and an interest in Game.

1♣ - 1♦ - 1NT - ?       1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - ?       1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - ?       1♥ - 1♠ - 1NT - ?

In all above (and similar) cases a rebid of 2♣ by the Responder is Crowhurst. Any other new suit bid at the 2 level by Responder shows a weak 2-suiter hand, after which Opener may pass or show a preference (by returning to Responder's first bid suit).

Here follow some typical examples.

Bidding Description Example hand
1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ 11+ pts, Crowhurst ♠ A Q 9 7 4     ♥ K 9 7 4     ♣ K 8 5     ♦ 9
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ 11+ pts, Crowhurst ♠ K 10 9 4 2     ♥ K 8 5     ♣ A 4     ♦ J 7 2
1♦ - 1♥ - 1NT - 2♣ 11+ pts, Crowhurst ♠ 9 4 2     ♥ Q J 10 6 3     ♣ A K 5     ♦ 10 8
1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♦ Weak, 2-suiter ♠ K 10 9 4 2     ♥ -     ♣ 8 4 2     ♦ Q J 7 6
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♥ Weak, 2-suiter ♠ A 10 9 4 2     ♥ Q J 7 6 3     ♣ 7 5     ♦ 7
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 3♣ Weak, 2-suiter ♠ K 10 9 7 4     ♥ 6 5 3     ♣ K Q 9 5 3     ♦ -



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BR 33.3 - Opener's replies to a Crowhurst 2♣

After Responder's Crowhurst 2♣ rebid, Opener has the following order of priorities :

  1. show the unbid 4-card major suit if he holds it.
    This is only relevant when Responder's first bid was 1♠, so that Opener was unable to bid his 4-card suit.

  2. show 3-card support for Responder's major suit.

  3. show his points range : 12-13 = minimum     14-15 = maximum.

  4. Show his side suit stoppers for a possible NT contract.

  5. When Opener is unable to bid any of the above, he will rebid his own suit.

Opener will reply at the 2 level (2♦, 2♥, 2♠ or 2NT) with a minimum 12-13 points.

Opener will reply at the 3 level (3♣, 3♦, 3♥, 3♠ or 3NT) with a maximum 14-15 points.

After Enemy interference a Pass by Openers shows a minimum (12-13). All his other bids show 14-15 points.

Here follow some typical examples.

Bidding Description Opener's hand
1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ 12-13 pts, 4-card suit ♠ A 7 4     ♥ K Q 7 4     ♣ K J 2     ♦ 9 5 2
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 3♥ 14-15 pts, 4-card suit ♠ K 10 9     ♥ K J 5 2     ♣ A 4     ♦ K 9 8 6
1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♠ 12-13 pts, 3-card support ♠ A 7 4     ♥ K Q 7     ♣ K J 6 2     ♦ 9 5 2
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 3♠ 14-15 pts, 3-card support ♠ K 10 9     ♥ K J 5     ♣ A 4     ♦ K 9 8 6 3
1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2NT 12-13 pts
stoppers in and
♠ 9 7     ♥ K Q 7     ♣ K J 0 6 2     ♦ A 5 2
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 3NT 14-15 pts
stoppers in and
♠ K 10     ♥ K J 5     ♣ A 9 7 4     ♦ K 9 8 6
1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ 12-13 pts
stopper in not in
♠ A 7     ♥ K Q 7     ♣ K J 0 6 2     ♦ 8 5 2
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 3♣ 14-15 pts
stoppers in not in
♠ K 10     ♥ 9 7 5     ♣ A K 7 4     ♦ K J 8 6

Also check out the modified Crowhurst 2♣ used in combination with the Power 1NT opening.


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BR 32.4 - Deal 153 - 160

Deals 153 - 160 are examples of bidding as outlined in this lesson.


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Copyright © 2011 Michael Furstner (Jazclass). All rights reserved.